HOWEVER, it has been shown that an electron can cause its own interference pattern (and presumably any particle may act likewise), so there may be an aspect to the dimension time which we have yet to adequately explore ... brane theory and string theory may hold the keys to a better explanation of just what time is and how it is fashioned for functioning in our experience, leaving room for a greater expression which is not metaphysical but which is sourced in higher dimension variability.
It seems our existence has origins in the physical manifestation begun with the advent of life on Earth billions of years ago. This is not to say there is no dimension of life force which erupted into the physical with life expression, but a mechanism for such a phenomenon has yet to be identified to the satisfaction of science ... and that is as it should be for if there is a reality we've missed before, there must be a connecting process and it will be measured and quantified if it truly exists. I happen to believe the essence of time as a dimension of variable expressions is the key to a new perspective. 'Time will tell' ...
If I take God at His word, then humankind in Adam is a very new and different expression of dimensional variables from what existed when Adam was transformed from nephesh into a neshama.
That is an understandment, dear MHGinTN! Time -- or rather our understanding of it -- seems poorly understood.
Thank you so much for this excellent essay/post!