I’m very glad we had the opportunity in class to watch STtNG (oh yeah I’m officially a trekkie). It seems these episodes have a lot more in them than initially meets the eye. As a child when flipping through channels I would hesitate on the star trek just long enough to make fun of the funny ears and weird forehead on the different characters. Watching last week I got a small glimpse of what this life is like from an eternal perspective. Never would I have expected it to come from an episode of Star Trek. In the episode we recently watched the great captain of the Starship Enterprise was rendered unconscious when an alien vessel over powered him by some unexplicable force. Though Captain Baccard was only unconcious for less than a half an hour, he was left with the perception that it had been years and in his other state of being had grown to an old age. In all his years on the enterprise 20 minutes is a completely insignificant time. These 20 minutes now has a profound effect that will go with the captain for the rest of his existence. It has more influence and poignancy than some of his missions that probably took days, weeks, or even months.
Just like this, our lives are but a mere “20” minutes in a seemingly unconcious state. I go about life thinking I have eternity here on earth and that I will never die or get sick. The truth of the matter is that while in the eternities we will look back and wonder where it went, perhaps just as I think view middle school or eigth grade summer camp. Though it seemed some cruel trap it was in persective but the blink of an eye. I now see that spending some time in pondering the wisdom of the great creators of Star Trek will leave you in a state of pensive wonder.
When concidering the trivial amount of time I have been alotted here in this life, I think about what contributions I have made. I compared myself with the coral polyp, which we read briefly about last week. The coral polyp, according to Wikipedia, secretes calcium from its oraphace and thereby creates a large infrastructure in which all other organisms can create homes, food, and hunting grounds. Every species of sea creature is dependant upon this small insignificant urchine. Whether it created an anchor for one species to cling to or it houses the food source of another, all animals are in some way connected. These small polyps are major contributors to the world phenomenon known as the great barrior reef. An animal that’s only millimeters in size is credited for one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. What if we as individual humans, insignificant in size and capability, were able to channel our resources into doing the same? We have obviously created phenomenal marvels. Looking at our cities and technology it is amazing to consider the power we possess. What if, as the coral polyp we channeled our energies and recources into not just building and evolving, but doing so impact free? With all that we have done it is hard to believe that we are lacking more than just the desire to do so. My attitude as an individual should be that in this short time I can add to the world my small portion of potential, and it will matter.
I am quite sure that as one who represents Christ through my practice of Christianity I should be held to such a standard. This life is all about reaching our potential. It is composed of many small steps within a large eternal step. It is no secret that we each will be asked to account for what we have done with accord to what we have been given, or in other words, our potential. I hope to excited and proud of all that I have to account for. The decision of how that meeting will go is up to us.
I would say that no matter who you are, the amount of potential you have most definitely is not small. I like your optimistic view about what can be done with one life - if everyone felt that way there would be a lot more getting done in the world. I believe too many think if they aren't an Einstein or a prophet that they can't contribute to society in any worthwhile degree. It's people who believe that they can do something, even if it is small, that make this world really move, and their time worthwhile.
I am so pleased that you are beginning to appreciate the world of Star Trek. If that is all we accomplish in this class, you can consider your tuition well spent :) On a more serious note, I loved this blog. I think that what you have touched on here is the essence of what it means to be Christian, to see the world as a place to make as much charitable change as we possibly can. That we better ourselves, we actually become who we forever will be, through building up those all around us. I agree that in that light, our influence will never be small: it is everything.
This episode touched me as well. Dr. Peck has converted us all! I thought it was really special to realize that is how we must feel when we return back to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In our mortal time here on this earth, we have many experiences and create many memories. When we die, we retain them, but in reality we will have been gone for such a short time. I want to make sure I live up to my potential in every way that I can- and that includes being charitable not only towards my fellow man, but also to the world around me. Great blog!
I am no big fan of star trek, but I liked your comments. It is true that humans are a remarkable species. If we focused all of our efforts and resources into creating the good, we have amazing potential. If we all would strive for that goal there is nothing we couldn't achieve. However,the question is how do we convince everyone to strive for the better?
It is interesting that each little piece of coral makes a difference but the piece that was probably the most important was the first one. After that more joined the "cause" until you have a infrastructure that can support other "life" I guess it is the same with us. It usually just takes one example from someone and everybody else will jump in and follow.
Isn't that why the gospel is so great! Each person has divine potential, even the "weakest" of us all. If we could but understand that we are joint-heirs with Christ, we could do so much more good. All of the authors that we have read struggle to find a universal ethic about nature, but all of their efforts are in vain. The answer is simple: Christ's everlasting gospel. Teaching it's simple principles will bring about change faster than teaching ethical treatment of nature.
Just a small, but important correction. The name is Picard, not Baccard. Apart from that, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of life. It is short, and our time is limited. We ought to live in such a way that even our short lives leave a legacy of truth and righteousness.
It's ok, though. Baccard makes him sound more like a pirate, and I think the more swashbuckling there is in life, the better. Great post. It made me laugh and think a lot. It also made me kind of scared. But hopefully I'll use this as a wake-up call to fulfill more of my potential.
I think the gospel helps me put time in perspective. I feel that everything is rushed today and no one ever takes the time to enjoy their surroundings. I think we need to appreciate the time we have here on earth because in the time line of life it is but a small moment.
I’m very glad we had the opportunity in class to watch STtNG (oh yeah I’m officially a trekkie). It seems these episodes have a lot more in them than initially meets the eye. As a child when flipping through channels I would hesitate on the star trek just long enough to make fun of the funny ears and weird forehead on the different characters. Watching last week I got a small glimpse of what this life is like from an eternal perspective. Never would I have expected it to come from an episode of Star Trek. In the episode we recently watched the great captain of the Starship Enterprise was rendered unconscious when an alien vessel over powered him by some unexplicable force. Though Captain Baccard was only unconcious for less than a half an hour, he was left with the perception that it had been years and in his other state of being had grown to an old age. In all his years on the enterprise 20 minutes is a completely insignificant time. These 20 minutes now has a profound effect that will go with the captain for the rest of his existence. It has more influence and poignancy than some of his missions that probably took days, weeks, or even months.
ReplyDeleteJust like this, our lives are but a mere “20” minutes in a seemingly unconcious state. I go about life thinking I have eternity here on earth and that I will never die or get sick. The truth of the matter is that while in the eternities we will look back and wonder where it went, perhaps just as I think view middle school or eigth grade summer camp. Though it seemed some cruel trap it was in persective but the blink of an eye. I now see that spending some time in pondering the wisdom of the great creators of Star Trek will leave you in a state of pensive wonder.
When concidering the trivial amount of time I have been alotted here in this life, I think about what contributions I have made. I compared myself with the coral polyp, which we read briefly about last week. The coral polyp, according to Wikipedia, secretes calcium from its oraphace and thereby creates a large infrastructure in which all other organisms can create homes, food, and hunting grounds. Every species of sea creature is dependant upon this small insignificant urchine. Whether it created an anchor for one species to cling to or it houses the food source of another, all animals are in some way connected. These small polyps are major contributors to the world phenomenon known as the great barrior reef. An animal that’s only millimeters in size is credited for one of the greatest natural wonders in the world. What if we as individual humans, insignificant in size and capability, were able to channel our resources into doing the same? We have obviously created phenomenal marvels. Looking at our cities and technology it is amazing to consider the power we possess. What if, as the coral polyp we channeled our energies and recources into not just building and evolving, but doing so impact free? With all that we have done it is hard to believe that we are lacking more than just the desire to do so. My attitude as an individual should be that in this short time I can add to the world my small portion of potential, and it will matter.
I am quite sure that as one who represents Christ through my practice of Christianity I should be held to such a standard. This life is all about reaching our potential. It is composed of many small steps within a large eternal step. It is no secret that we each will be asked to account for what we have done with accord to what we have been given, or in other words, our potential. I hope to excited and proud of all that I have to account for. The decision of how that meeting will go is up to us.
I would say that no matter who you are, the amount of potential you have most definitely is not small. I like your optimistic view about what can be done with one life - if everyone felt that way there would be a lot more getting done in the world. I believe too many think if they aren't an Einstein or a prophet that they can't contribute to society in any worthwhile degree. It's people who believe that they can do something, even if it is small, that make this world really move, and their time worthwhile.
ReplyDeleteman sigfreed, what a great blog
ReplyDeleteI am so pleased that you are beginning to appreciate the world of Star Trek. If that is all we accomplish in this class, you can consider your tuition well spent :) On a more serious note, I loved this blog. I think that what you have touched on here is the essence of what it means to be Christian, to see the world as a place to make as much charitable change as we possibly can. That we better ourselves, we actually become who we forever will be, through building up those all around us. I agree that in that light, our influence will never be small: it is everything.
ReplyDeleteThis episode touched me as well. Dr. Peck has converted us all! I thought it was really special to realize that is how we must feel when we return back to the presence of our Heavenly Father. In our mortal time here on this earth, we have many experiences and create many memories. When we die, we retain them, but in reality we will have been gone for such a short time. I want to make sure I live up to my potential in every way that I can- and that includes being charitable not only towards my fellow man, but also to the world around me. Great blog!
ReplyDeleteI am no big fan of star trek, but I liked your comments. It is true that humans are a remarkable species. If we focused all of our efforts and resources into creating the good, we have amazing potential. If we all would strive for that goal there is nothing we couldn't achieve. However,the question is how do we convince everyone to strive for the better?
ReplyDeleteIt is interesting that each little piece of coral makes a difference but the piece that was probably the most important was the first one. After that more joined the "cause" until you have a infrastructure that can support other "life" I guess it is the same with us. It usually just takes one example from someone and everybody else will jump in and follow.
ReplyDeleteIsn't that why the gospel is so great! Each person has divine potential, even the "weakest" of us all. If we could but understand that we are joint-heirs with Christ, we could do so much more good. All of the authors that we have read struggle to find a universal ethic about nature, but all of their efforts are in vain. The answer is simple: Christ's everlasting gospel. Teaching it's simple principles will bring about change faster than teaching ethical treatment of nature.
ReplyDeleteJust a small, but important correction. The name is Picard, not Baccard. Apart from that, I wholeheartedly agree with your assessment of life. It is short, and our time is limited. We ought to live in such a way that even our short lives leave a legacy of truth and righteousness.
ReplyDeleteIt's ok, though. Baccard makes him sound more like a pirate, and I think the more swashbuckling there is in life, the better. Great post. It made me laugh and think a lot. It also made me kind of scared. But hopefully I'll use this as a wake-up call to fulfill more of my potential.
ReplyDeleteI think the gospel helps me put time in perspective. I feel that everything is rushed today and no one ever takes the time to enjoy their surroundings. I think we need to appreciate the time we have here on earth because in the time line of life it is but a small moment.
ReplyDelete