There is no meaning to the big picture, IMO. I know that seems like a negative outlook, but when people say that everything is connected and everything, they're saying that others' pain and suffering are happening for a reason.. but some things are totally senseless and serve no purpose-like deadly viruses. Why is there HIV? Why are there deadly tsunamis? Why do people OD? They didn't consent to being an example of what addiction can do.
Because nature is inherantly cruel, its up to humans to stand up to nature's will, by thinking, practicing science, by creating art and music, by creating stable societies, we're empowering ourselves against nature will for us. In other words, doing things like helping your fellow man are unnatural. They're uniquely human. If we weren't human, then we'd kill other people for food and find mates by clubbing them on the head. Nature is a cold product of the evolutionary process, not an awe inspiring tapestry of Gods work.
Crediting our power for good to something else seems like an insult to all man has been able to do.