Stars of a planet and galaxy in a free space
First point: Albert Einstein – no shrinking Violet in the field of deep thought – said, “I think the most important question facing humanity is, ‘Is the universe a friendly place?’”
He put forth three alternatives:
Option One: the Universe is unfriendly. In that case, we use our technology, science and resources to be safe by creating bigger walls to keep out the unfriendliness and bigger weapons to destroy all that which is unfriendly. He went on to add, “We are getting to a place where technology is powerful enough that we may either completely isolate or destroy ourselves as well in this process.”
The second alternative is that the Universe is neither friendly nor unfriendly and that God is essentially “playing dice with the universe.” Should this be accurate, we are simply victims to the random toss of the dice and our lives have no real purpose or meaning.
That leaves one other choice: The Universe is a friendly place. In this instance, we will use our technology, science, and resources to create tools and models to understand it “because power and safety will come through understanding its workings and its motives.”
He made no final call except to say, “God does not play dice with the universe.”
Point two: Our current political dialog resembles more an elementary school playground fight than a contest for the most powerful office in land. There’s a gag-worthy political stench wafting through the discourse.
No one likes it (well, no one that’s rational at least). To change it, some respond by shouting, “We need to fight. It’s time to get angry.”
Don’t get me wrong; I am angry too. However, I’m inviting other to share in my campaign: “Compassion first. I’d rather be happy than right.”
It doesn’t mean I’m rolling over; this is not an “either-or” thing.
Sure, I am upset that we appear to be choosing a leader based on the size of one’s “hands,” or that some put forth the misguided, hateful notion that a path to unity comes from excluding those with whom we disagree. What sense does that make?
However, I am equally convinced that creating factions of “us” and “them,” and locking both in a ring to duke it out last person standing will never construct a better place. I’d like to believe that I’m smart enough to know my ideas are the right ones. But I am wise enough to know for a fact that yelling louder can’t lower the volume. Loudness is not directly tied to rightness. Moreover, leaving space for the correctness of others’ opinions doesn’t make mine wrong anymore than digging in my heels, crossing my arms defiantly, and standing firmly ensures my rightness. As the bumper sticker says, “Don’t believe everything you think.”
We know that what’s happening is not a “random roll of the dice.”
Therefore, only two options remain. Not knowing which is accurate, we are put in the position of simply having to trust the Universe. However, in neither case, will kindness, compassion, and sharing happiness make things worse.
About the author: Scott “Q” Marcus is a nationally known weight loss expert for baby boomers and the CRP (Chief Recovering Perfectionist) of www.ThisTimeIMeanIt.com. He is available for coaching and speaking. His new book (co-written with his sister), “The Busy Baby Boomers Motivational Guide to Weight Loss” is now at BabyBoomersGuides.com.
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