Whether you are steeped in religious beliefs from childhood unquestionably accepting your existence or an atheist looking for logical, scientific proofs of evolution that explains your presence in this world, you can not get away from the fact that each one of us is a miracle of existence.
Anatomically modern humans have roamed the earth for nearly 200,000 years, yet the workings of a human body are still a mystery. Admittedly, we know a lot but there is still a lot we haven't figured out. We know that our very existence is a delicate balancing act of countless biological processes, thousands of chemical interactions and multiplex of magnetic forces working every single nano second of our existence without rest.
Scientists now know that in addition to chemical aspects like water and oxygen, space or nothingness is one of our bodies major constituent. Our bodily atoms encompass 99.9 percent of space within which magnetic fields are generated by whirling electrons around nucleus. Biologically, trillions of cells make our pulsating organs and coursing blood, but what really gives us our physical shape and keeps us from collapsing into ourselves like a black hole are these repelling magnetic forces. These hold the atoms in place, in turn giving our organs and us our bodily shape. The same magnetic currents also whizz around in our brains and travel down our nerves and become the means by which we think, create, move and even store memories. Our bodies are truly a marvel where in biological, chemical and physical processes all happen according to their very distinct properties and rules, but somehow their edges are blurred and they all execute seamlessly into what we call life.
And the marvel doesn't stop inside us. Interestingly, star-light or photons are pockets of electromagnetic radiation emitted by stars traveling at the speed of light through space. These photons let us see stars and galaxies. Just pause for a second and let this sink in - the same force that opens up the universe to us to behold in all its vastness and glory, is coursing through each and everyone of us all though our lives. We really are the stuff of the universe and like Joni Mitchell sang made of star dust.
Our connection to this universe is true and binding and precious. So it really belies one to think that we are born without intent or are not part of something bigger than us. Whether we believe it or not, each one of us is not without clear purpose, and each one of us has just as important purpose as the next person. It is perhaps not obvious to us as we navigate through life, some times seamlessly sailing and at other times stumbling through its myriad and confusing crossroads and corridors. We think of ourselves as unworthy at times, lesser important than others perhaps, a janitor not seemingly having the same impact on other lives than a CEO, but the ripples both set out by doing and saying and being are equally important. Because ultimately the ripples travel not only outwards affecting others, for better or worse, but inwards as well. They affect the person more than they care to admit or ponder. They alter the chemical, biological and physical processes within their own body thereby changing the person’s own life for better or worse.
Each one of us has a role to play for the time of our existence in this world, and no one is born without being cast in the play we call living. Now it is up to us how we play this role, do we want to study our part in some depth, fine tune our delivery of it and delve into the character we have been casted with gusto or do we slog through the role making an unremarkable exit.
We owe it to the miracle of our existence to fulfill our purpose. Admittedly we may not know or realize yet what that might be, but we can make sure we are doing it right by honoring the miracle of our existence by being the best we can be physically, mentally, socially and spiritually.
Here is to finding the best version of you!
