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Sunshine's avatar

Reading this, I kept hearing Whitman: “I contain multitudes.” The arithmetic is staggering, but what moves me most is the reminder that the immensity isn’t only above us — it’s within us.

Annette Wilzig's avatar

To gain an actual understanding of such near impossible grand numbers is indeed mind-boggling. Now, I used to put something in that pipe to smoke it and try to think about such mind-blowing stuff but now instead of spraining my brain with such things, I just accept it as math doesn't lie. It's how I treat the concept of God/The Universe........I just accept it because belief in something that humongous sits alright with me. Faith is a funny thing when compared to facts.....yet for me someone they also go hand in hand. Yin and Yang. But that doesn't mean I'll have faith in just any ol' thing. Critical thinking if vital, but faith in something I've thought about for decades, felt it in my soul (science can't measure those things), just works right for me.

Portia's avatar

How moving, Annette! May you always keep it.

Annette Wilzig's avatar

Thank you Portia (love your name by the way!). I have no choice but to keep it. It's there and it's rooted deeply. Sometimes I'll question it, but somehow I'm always reassured.

Portia's avatar

What a gift to treasure!

Portia's avatar

All these awe-inspiring numbers, wondrous atom aggregations, and yet we're stuck with dubious specimens of humans. Doesn't the Universe deserve better?

Cecil Touchon's avatar

Well, that is part of the mystery of it. Humans as a whole are in a variety of simultaneous states, delusional, broken, brilliant, in comas, darkness, sickness, poverty, starvation, abundance beyond measure, addiction, drunkenness, soberness, discipline, arrogance, despair, elation, humility, romance, hatred, you name it. All happening at the same time all over the world. If it is nothing else, it is endless an diversity of experiences. All of it expressions of the universal being that is the universe. I suppose it is up to each one of us to awaken to the wonder of it and become and inhabit the wonder that we are. When enough people do that then we are off to a good start. Our bodies know how to do that already. Now it just a matter of getting our identities to follow along and play our parts in the symphony of it. But let's not hold our breath. These things take time and tolerance. Each of us has our part to play. So let's get on with it. Onward through the Fog!

Portia's avatar

Wait for me, I'm joining you!

Cecil Touchon's avatar

We'll all join each other! I went ahead and blew this comment up into an article coming out soon!