Purposeful Growth

How big is big? Our known Universe is larger than human comprehension. Just recently (January 6th), an article in Nature described discovery of a space explosion. Not just an explosion, but the largest known explosion in space. This blast was equal to “trillions and trillions of atomic bombs” according to astronomer Brian McNamara.

A trillion is a big number…one followed by 12 zeroes. This blast was equivalent to multi-trillion atomic bombs. Why didn’t we feel it here on earth? Because it occured so far away that the energy disappated before reaching earth. How far away? 2.6 billion light-years away. Light travels at 186,300 miles per second in a vacuum. A light-year is the distance light can travel in one year: in miles that’s about 5.9 followed by 12 zeroes. Now multiply that by 2.6 followed by 9 zeroes. Wow! This blast, in miles, was about 15 followed by 21 zeroes distant from Earth. It’s no wonder we were unaffected by a huge blast at this distance.

Now my point is this: our Universe is huge! Beyond human comprehension. The blast I reference didn’t occur at the edge of our Universe–no one knows where that is. It occured out there in just one direction. And it left two gigantic “holes”, each large enough to hold 650 galaxies equivalent to our Milky Way.

So far I’ve focused on the size of our Universe. But think of the energy inherent in this event. Trillions and trillions of atomic bombs worth of energy in just one astronomical explosion. And we didn’t even feel it! It was inconsequential to us here on Earth.

Pondering the immensity of our Universe must cause both spiritualists and scientists alike to say, Wow! For me, this reinforces my belief in God, for I can concieve of no other source of the energy and magnitude of what we call our Universe.

Jerry

If you’re like me, you struggle to reconcile your spiritual beliefs with the death, destruction, and hate in the world. This article stems from my personal effort to acknowledge daily events while remaining grounded and comfortable in my beliefs.

Reconciling Belief in God in Today’s World

An earthquake strikes under the Indian Ocean and the resulting tsunami kills over 150,000 people.
Conflict, violence, and murder prevail in Iraq and many other countries.
God loves us.
God does not punish us for human behaviors.
We attract our life circumstances and situations, as individuals and collectively as nations and cultures.

How can we reconcile these apparently conflicting statements? Did these 150,000 people, many of them children, really attract death by drowning? How can God love us and allow so much destruction? Do the daily doses of death, murder, and mayhem demonstrate there is no God?

As a person who believes in a loving, non-punitive God, and the ability of humans to create their life circumstances, I sometimes struggle to explain recent world events in terms of my beliefs. Yes, I can construct a scenario that fits within the tragic facts of today’s world and my beliefs; but that proves nothing. Each of us can construct our own version of truth based on our beliefs, explaining the deaths, destruction, and conflict of our world. We can’t really know the truth or truths, and it probably doesn’t matter.

More important than explanation, is finding a way to feel positive and loving while moving forward in life each day. I cannot view life on this planet from the perspective of God—not while I’m in my human existence. I can only go back to the fundamentals of life in which I firmly believe, and which bring me comfort and peace. I can only build the life I choose to live—because this is my life.

The fundamentals of my life are:

- I am here to experience life in all of its diversity; some of life’s experiences are uplifting, others are challenging and disturbing.
- Life is eternal; my human body is finite, but my soul lives forever.
- I can know what my soul desires by being attentive to my emotions; positive emotion means I’m living as my soul desires, negative emotion means I’m going the opposite way.
- When I feel positive, I attract more of the same, and vice-versa.

Extending these fundamentals to today’s happenings, I believe:

- I cannot fully understand why there is so much violence and bloodshed, destruction and hate.
- I can only choose how I wish to be.
- I choose love, peace, compassion, and hope.
- I choose to love all beings, regardless of whether I agree with what they do.
- I choose to love each of life’s events, regardless of my level of discomfort. - I give my energy and attention to positive, loving aspects of life.

When I follow my soul’s desire, identified by how I’m feeling, I live my life’s purpose. Living my life’s purpose impacts the world in ways beyond my comprehension; this is the most I can do.

What are your fundamental beliefs of life?