It really is all about perspective. For example look at our place in the universe. We are on a small slightly damp rock orbiting a star that will ultimately fizzle out in a cosmic eyeblink. Our radio presence takes up not even a one percent volume of the milky way. So far as we are aware we are alone. There is no help coming. Ours is the only voice in the dark asking if there is anyone out there.
Some people see this as degrading. Science removing us further and further from the center of existence. However to me that puts us in the grandest place of all. We are a part of this thing so vast and old that the human mind cannot properly fathom it. We are made from the furnices of stars that exploded out to seed not just the cloud that would condense into the solar system, but potentially others. If there are no voices out there because there is nobody else. Then we are the first. We are the Old Ones that have the privilaged place of making all those first mistakes and are obligated to find ways of making sure those that come after know that they were not alone even if we never live to see them. If we are not (and i do not believe we are alone) then it is simply a case of us playing catch up to everyone else much like living in a rural farm house and having to build a wagon to roll on over to the neighbors.
Either event leaves me feeling large at the end of the day. I am part of this thing. Humanity has the potential for so much more than it is, and while the news likes to bombard us with all the bleakness and blackness of the world even that in its own way helps since it motivates people to stand and go ‘this is not right we should do something.’ Ours is one of if not the least violent period in human history. Our standard of living slowly rises, and that worm that burrows out of your leg because you drank tainted water went from being so prevelant it literally is the symbol for medicine (‘snake’ twined around a staff) to there being something on the order of twenty five cases globally in the past year.
And on a personal note even those that are poor and rural to the point of being unable to go in person live in an age where libraries worth of knowledge, discussion with like minded people no matter our faith creed color or mindset is not only possible but at least in the developed world (apologies for the America-Centricness) it’s expected as normal.
That I believe God did this should be immaterial to the fact the Universe is awesome, and by extension we are awesome for being able to understand at least a little of it.
