Wednesday, August 13, 2008

Reflections on the Moon

Last night, after a quick thunderstorm had cleared the air and the clouds had moved out, I went out into the front yard, perched on a rock and stared up at the moon. I have always felt drawn to the moon, but it is a very subtle sort of feeling. I feel certain that our bodies, made of so much water as they are, must be subtly affected by something that is powerful enough to influence the very oceans of our world.

We have uncovered so much of what is hidden, and now we probe the secrets of the cosmos itself...I wonder how we will feel when it is all laid out in cold hard numbers, and all the mysteries are gone. Will the lives of those future people seem empty and hollow because there is nothing left to marvel at? Or are there some mysteries that we will never solve?

I think it would be better if there were. I think humankind needs mysteries.

Writing Prompt: What mysteries do you find yourself drawn to? Why do you think you are drawn to them?

13 comments:

sbwrites said...

Very nicely written. I, too, think we need mysteries...and a sense of wonder. Given my lack of interest in science, I have a sense of wonder and mystery when I see sunrises and sunsets, beautiful flowers, trees that have lived for a hundred years, and even when I look at the ocean's ebb and flow!

Susan

Jazz said...

Susan-
I often think that my scientific background makes these things even more wondrous...I marvel at how elegant nature is, and how amazing it is that we have evolved the intelligence to come up with a language--mathematics--with which we can describe some of her patterns...

sbwrites said...

Jazz,
Given my lack of mathematical ability, I find it a wonder and mystery that you can understand any of that!

Susan

Anonymous said...

Lovely post! I love the moon, and the stars. We'll probably always find something to marvel at, if we look in the right direction. Change your focus and the world is new again.

There's so much out there I doubt we'll ever run out of things to be curious about. And where mathematics leaves off, there is always imagination 'eh.

Monica Cassani said...

there will always be mystery...it is only the hubris of the human being that imagines we can know everything...

I don't think you have anything to worry about!! Even if some of us think we can figure it all out...we never ever will.

I guess the sad part is so many people lose the capacity to be in awe and wonder....they think they know everything...

kinda like psychiatrists...

and yes...this piece was very beautifully written!!

Chris said...

Lunacy is madness from the moon. The root of the word had to come from somewhere. More pregnant women go into labor on a full moon. I think at our root, we know our connection to our move.

Jazz said...

Catatonickid--
I think imagination is perhaps even more important than mathematics!

Jazz said...

Gianna--
Yes, psychiatrists...no sense of humor! No imagination! Good for us for leaving that particular party!

Jazz said...

Chris--
It's interesting how our language reflects the importance of the moon, isn't it?

Kass said...

I'm drawn to death. I want to know what's on the other side. And I look forward to not having to deal with any problems, I pray.

Jazz said...

Marissa--
I'd like to know what's on the other side, too...but I'll avoid heading there for as long as possible!

Annie said...

Jazz, I enjoyed your lovely post and it is a fine piece of writing. I pictured the northern lights and my delight in the site when I lived in Minnesota. Thanks for helping me remember them. Annie

Jazz said...

You are most welcome, Annie!
I'm glad I helped you remember something beautiful.