Monday, July 5, 2010

Treasure Hunt

Spirit is the animating principle in a person.

Immanuel Kant
******************
A biologist can take a spoonful of water out of the sea, put it under a microscope and see a vast community of unicellular creatures swimming around, looking for the ocean they once knew. Another biologist can take a pinch of dirt from the ground and see the bacteria and microbes of vital life in it under the same microscope.

Think of the astrophysicists who are using X-rays, ultraviolet rays and electromagnetism to see the dark matter that can't be seen, even with a telescope and can only be known by its effects..

On every level of life from the simplest to the most universal, things are neither what they seem nor are they likely to remain what we think we know about them after careful analysis. That's one of the things that makes life so interesting.

Which brings me to the human being, if not the most complex then one of the most complex creatures in the universe. You are not what you seem to be. You are not what you eat. You're not what you look like. And you're not what you think about most of the time. Hidden underneath the life style, the clothes, the flesh and blood and even the dark matter is a vital, animating force which defines you as a very special, unique creature of the universe. It can't be seen even under the most powerful microscope. It can only be known by its effects. But it is at work all the time, asleep or awake, knowing the unknown and getting to know the unknowable.

We are amazing things, we humans, worth more wonder and respect than we permit ourselves.

DB - The Vagabond
******************

Weekend Puzzle
A few attempts so far, no answer.

A minimalist cryptogram

B'S GHH GH1 TXTPE P.M.

GHH GH1 ZTTHBFI AZURE

1L'O CATPT U R & AYC U R

& BZ U R GHH GH1 2.

BPXBFI NTPHBF

(G L)
DB

6 comments:

Elder Forest Publishing Group said...

Interesting post. Keep 'em coming!

Valerie said...

I am in awe of the human being. Great post! I am still working on your cryptogram. LOL I am visiting my dad today. He likes working on these. Perhaps he will give it a stab. Sending hugs and love, Val xox

Big Mark 243 said...

So what is the purpose of anything? You mean the existentialists are correct??

pacifica62 said...

Yes, perhaps we are worth more wonder and respect than we permit ourselves so that we do not take each other and our species for granted. If "you are not what you seem to be", then how do we know who we are. How do other people discover who we are. Do we project visions or illusions of who we think we might be but that is not who we really are? Let us hope that this animating force and its' effects show us in a good light so that we deserve our specialness and uniqueness. There is very little, genetically, that separates us from some other species.

Ken Riches said...

There are some humans that feel that their uniqueness is more worthy than others, and they try and force it on them. Luckily they are outnumbered, but not nearly as loud.

Sage Ravenwood said...

I've always appreciated the unique qualities of individuals I've known. You dear friend are a giant amongst us all. I love the way you look life, all the aspects of it. (Hugs)Indigo