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» The Universe and Everything in it, Packaged and in Full Color for Your Convenience |
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The Universe and Everything in it, Packaged and in Full Color for Your Convenience
by Mark Havenner
It is the plague of our forefathers, ancestors and legends of history
to have not known enough for their own time. We may look at John
Lennon, Gandhi, and Jesus Christ adornigly from our seat here in the
Present, but we often follow up with "only if".
Only if Jesus Christ was welcomed by the Romans.
Only if the British Empire didn't challenge Gandhi.
Only if John hadn't walked out of the Dakota that day.
It
is easy for us to think of our perfect history. Those moments that,
armed with present knowledge, we could deter horrible catastrophes and
acts of evil. Often we forget, however, that we also have this plague.
And so will everyone who lives beyond us.
It is a myth to think
that one has the whole picture. It is also a myth to think your present
perception of events in the past is more complete.
Deconstructing
one's limitations is the ultimate task of a growing individual. And
knowing that one knows nothing is the first step. Knowing that one
knows everything is the second. Do you know John Lennon will be shot
when he steps out of the Dakota? Sure. Did John? Probably not. Is your
perspective better than his? Hardly.
Our direct experience of
the universe translates directly into the universe. It is that
experience of experiencing wherein we are most connected to all things.
Broader perspective does not necessarily mean hindsight, it means being
the one that experiences it.
The next time you think about how
much more you would like to know about the universe, know that you
already know it. Packaged for your convenience. All that is left to do
is experience it one temporal moment at a time.
This work by Mark Havenner is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 3.0 United States License.
Artwork courtesy of tomt6788 at flickr.com. Licensed under Creative Commons Attribution 2.0.
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