tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334111606027148344.post6550200627657797705..comments2022-11-15T22:20:53.627-05:00Comments on Errant Epiphany: You Really Don't MatterDavid Wardhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09048079707788175631noreply@blogger.comBlogger1125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1334111606027148344.post-21912895939366298682009-09-10T13:45:24.620-04:002009-09-10T13:45:24.620-04:00It seemed best to wait a little while so that some...It seemed best to wait a little while so that someone else could have a chance to respond first to your blog, but they’ve had their chance now. Thank you, David, for another creative, thoughtful, and thought-provoking reflection. I really admire your desire to analyze, synthesize, and evaluate. I especially appreciate your candid comments about yourself, your family, our grandpa, and a society that evidently revolves around vanity and meaninglessness.<br /><br />I refrained from tossing in a bunch of quotes, passages, book titles, and my own pronouncements for now until you have a question. Instead, I (mostly) limited myself to an interrogative format so that we and other readers might continue to contemplate these important issues, either in writing or just in our minds. The conversation is important, even if it’s only within ourselves and seems to only lead to more questions. But here we go:<br />-------------------------------------------------<br /><br />A. [Last sentence of first paragraph]<br />Hey Napoleon, why does size matter, anyway?<br /><br />B. [2nd paragraph, “Heck…said he was.”]<br />Why was any of that so important to them? Would they have not died had they not disagreed—and what would be gained or lost by simply abandoning their convictions?<br /><br />C. [3rd paragraph, “But if you…but it’s the truth.”]<br />What other effects or reverberations can a person have beyond others merely “thinking” about them? In what ways has our grandfather influenced us beyond our memories and fond feelings? What subconscious/unconscious elements of him echo within us? Yes, I too go for stretches without thinking about him or certain other people, but does that mean there are no effects? (e.g. our manner of speaking and relating with others, subtle flavors of mood or connections of thought awakened in particular settings and situations, as well as various mindsets, modes of thinking, motives, approaches, curiosities, pastimes, and ideals that are adopted, shifted/altered, or at least emphasized.)<br /><br />D. [3rd paragraph, “Over the past year…pills by now.”]<br />Who else besides them? (Not to be selfish, but try your brother, for one!) If you did anything to intentionally hurt yourself, I’d seriously have to kick your ass. (Irony intended.)<br /><br />E. [4th paragraph, “Wow…never know we existed.”]<br />Again, why does size matter, or the amount of time, or the degree of recognition?<br /><br />F. [5th paragraph, “But…exists.”]<br />1) Why? <br />2) Can everything that is true be proven? (e.g.: Prove to me that you love your kids.) <br />3) Even if we could prove God’s existence and it was settled once and for all to everyone, what would happen to the individual’s free will?<br /><br />G. [5th paragraph, “Wait…the longest.”]<br />Again, what is up with this size thing? And how might the quantification of populations potentially create needless division through the use of ideological barriers? Might there be another, more open and elastic way to view people’s awareness and responsiveness of God and the spiritual domain?<br /><br />H. [5th paragraph, “I guess…actually matter.”] <br />How might some measurable knowledge actually *support* the element of faith rather than replace it? In other words, how can faith be defined and expanded beyond the mere territory of knowledge gaps?<br /><br />I. [Last 2 sentences.]<br />Can one finite and incredibly tiny speck *infinitely* matter to another finite, incredibly tiny speck? Is the value placed on the relative size/duration of that speck OR is it placed on the quality of the speck’s dynamics? And how does one finite speck even go about judging its own relative size, duration, and dynamic influence, especially if the standard deviation is based around infinity?zoeseekerhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/17327177829460568576noreply@blogger.com