Very small planet far distant from its source

The universe is said to be about 14 billion years old. The Earth about onethird of that. The universe, therefore, preexisted the formation of the Earth by approximately 10 billion years.

These are suggestive numbers. Some might conclude that Earth and its inhabitants were afterthoughts. Others might suggest that humanity represents the apex of the pyramid of existence, thus requiring much time to evolve.

Religious people, based on their theories of creation, will have to explain why their God dithered so long before presenting his masterpiece of man.

If one thinks about these things clearly, one must realize that we are a very small planet far distant from its source. Whether we and it were created by a principled energy, a presence or person, an origin of origins, or by chance, we remain dimly lit, flickering and hardly noticed in the immensity of deep dark space.

So vast, in fact, is the universe, that it contains billions of galaxies, each containing billions of stars which preceded our appearance. Obviously, there must be life elsewhere.

I believe that self-conscious life in a material human form may be exceptional, but not especially chosen, practical or superior. Quite the opposite.

Advanced consciousnesses would not burden themselves with skin, bones, blood, fleshy organs or other perishable parts. In fact, when we begin to arrive at distant planets, humans in physical forms are likely to report no signs of life, even if surrounded by high, formless beings.

Raphael O’Suna Haiku