Too Much of a Good Thing

What is "Mother Nature" up to? In the last few weeks, humans' encounters with water's most extreme forces has resulted in death and destruction all over the world.
Water is a basic element, and is part of us; we couldn't live without it. In many cultures, water is prayed to/for, and is one of the "directions" (earth, air, fire, water) in a prayer circle.
What happens when there is too much of a good thing? What happens when one element is completely out of balance with the rest? When in your life has one element been knocked out of whack and is over-controlling you? All you can focus on is the shortage or over-abundance of this one aspect and its resulting energy pull on you, and others around you. How does one stay centered when everything is falling apart? How do you balance when the rug is getting pulled out from underneath? What do you hold onto?
How you establish order out of chaos?