The following is written by a guest blogger. The opinions expressed here are those of the writer and do not reflect the opinions of Bob Lacey, Sheri Lynch or the Bob & Sheri show.
Every day that goes by on this amazing journey, one thing is reinforced in my mind – the only thing I know for sure is none of us know anything for sure. When it comes to the unseen, we know what we feel.
Many of our deepest held beliefs are based on stories from thousands of years ago. These imaginative orators from the past had zero understanding of the vastness of the universe, their own human DNA, the fact that the earth is 4.543 billion years old, round and not the center of the universe.
Without technological advances, there was no way for our curious ancestors to discover that our beautiful bright sun was a star exactly like the ones they saw twinkling in the night sky. So they observed with their eyes and created stories to fit what they were seeing.
Now in the year 2019, beliefs based on “as far as the eye can see” no longer dictate our perception of reality. We have the luxury of living in the age of scientific discovery. We can exchange mythology for factology.
On May 11, 2009 the Hubble was serviced for the last time. According to NASA scientists, the update changed everything. “Updates to the telescope have ushered in better resolution, wider wavelength coverage, and a new generation of groundbreaking discoveries.” We are literally able to see back in time and discover the origins of our universe.
The much improved telescope continues to reveal facts about our universe which our ancestors couldn’t even conceive of. Such as the fact that our amazing sun is just one of 200 billion suns burning throughout our galaxy. And our spiral-shaped Milky Way is not unique – according to the best estimates of astronomers there are at least one hundred billion galaxies in the observable universe.
So with each scientific discovery, more personal beliefs based on myths and stories are being challenged. But somehow, still . . . they persist.
Unfortunately, there is a segment of society who prefers myth over science. These folks choose a reality which serves them, makes them feel comfortable and gives them a sense of purpose. In a chaotic world filled with unknowns, I suppose that is understandable.
The intriguing dichotomy of this myth-based belief system is there is no room for scientific fact or deductive logic. Everything, including the age of our planet, must not deviate from the story which must be completely accepted as a matter of faith. With this belief as a foundation of one’s truth – Science and all that goes with it, is declared to be the enemy of God and therefore must be fought against.
Faith, science, creation and technology will always be a point of discussion amongst curious minds. Truth seekers will never quench their desire to see beyond their own mind’s eye. Hubble’s scientific discoveries will continue to unfold and unlock the mysteries of the universe.
But there is more to be seen, more to explore, more to understand. Next year, the James Webb Space Telescope is scheduled for launch. Once again NASA scientists will give us all an opportunity to open our minds and let go of misconceptions. The Webb telescope will reveal more to the human race than ever before. “Its advanced telescope optimized for infrared wavelengths will find the first galaxies that formed in the early universe and peer through dusty clouds to see stars forming planetary systems.”
One thing is for certain, this is the most exciting time in the history of mankind to be alive. In my opinion, the biggest disservice we could do to ourselves is to think we know all there is to know and therefore close our minds. When it comes to who we are, how we got here and all the mysteries of the universe – we are just beginning to scratch the surface of fact vs. ancient stories.
I don’t know much, but I can declare without reservation – I’m so grateful to be alive in this time. What a privilege!
The Zen Den
Hello and welcome to The Zen Den. My name is Alison and while I am passionate about many things, my most inspiring driving force is human connection. Blogger, content writer, orthopedic exercise specialist, motivational speaker, international yoga pro, published songwriter, avid poker player, mom and wife are just a few of my titles. But when I do my job at NASA, I am known simply as “The Fairy Zenmother” a role I deeply love because people invite me into their space to help them find their center, relax and stretch their muscles and destress their mind. Here in the blogosphere version of The Zen Den, I invite you into my world where I will explore ideas for creating a better tomorrow and a kinder today. And hopefully, with insight, authenticity and humor; my words, observations and experiences will help you feel calm, centered, intellectually challenged and spiritually enlightened. Alternatively, if you have something you would like to see covered in The Zen Den, just let me know. Your feedback is welcome and valuable to the success of this blog. Finally, my heart is filled with gratitude to have this opportunity to share with all of you.
