Even toddlers seem to think they are the "center of the universe." And if they never come to grips with that misconception, I suspect they will have a hard time in life.
It is such a problem for me, I meditate on pride every morning as part of my prayer. I remind myself that about a hundred billion people have lived on this planet and that I am just one of them.
By comparison, that is like one drop of water in an Olympic sized swimming pool - or one star in the Milky Way galaxy.
Likewise, I remind myself that I can only see through my own eyes. No matter how much I endeavor to see the world through the other guy's eyes, I cannot. I can never really "feel his pain." I can never really understand. Only God can.
More importantly, I cannot see "all that there is" all at once. I cannot see the beginning and the end of every thing and every one. I cannot see how it all fits together. Only God can do this. Only He speaks objective Truth.
And I remind myself how easily I am deceived by my own physical senses. For an example, I quote myself (LOLOL!):
But your car is speeding down the road at 65 mph. So for the guy watching you from the roadside table, that fly is going 70 mph.
But the road you have taken is on the equator and the circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles and the earth rotates once every 24 hours. So that fly is now going 1,100 mph + 70 mph = 1,170 mph.
Moreover, the orbital length of earth traveling around the sun is 149,600,000 miles, traveled in 365.25 days. That is 67,000 miles per hour. So add that in, and the fly is going 68,170 mph.
The sun orbits the Milky Way galaxy at a speed of 486,000 miles per hour. Add that in, and the fly is now going 554,170 miles per hour.
All of this and we haven’t gotten to the accelerating expansion of the universe, i.e. space/time itself. Space/time doesn’t pre-exist – it is created as the universe expands.
A galaxy 1 million light years away would seem to be moving away from us at a rate of 60,000 miles per hour. For every 3.26 million light years further out that we look, the galaxies seem to be moving away from us at an additional 162,000 miles per hour. In sum, the universe is currently at least 156 billion light years wide.
And that is looking at motion from the fly’s perspective. If we go in the other direction as "observer" – the quantum – the cumulative velocities are even more mind-boggling.
And so, as you have said in your testimony, I shall also endeavor to readjust my perspective concerning every issue that arrives on my "plate" in this life.
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes. - Job 42:1-6
That sounds like a wonderful book!
WHAT WONDERFULLY EXCELLENT BIBLICAL SPIRIT BREATHED WISDOM. PRAISE GOD:
Thank you so much for sharing your testimony and insights, dear sister in Christ!
I can find all kinds of reasons to blameshift and excuse my bad behavior and why people should go easy on me. I’ve always expected more from them than me.
Truly, I suspect we all cope with this problem throughout our Christian walk - indeed, throughout our lives.
Even toddlers seem to think they are the “center of the universe.” And if they never come to grips with that misconception, I suspect they will have a hard time in life.
It is such a problem for me, I meditate on pride every morning as part of my prayer. I remind myself that about a hundred billion people have lived on this planet and that I am just one of them.
By comparison, that is like one drop of water in an Olympic sized swimming pool - or one star in the Milky Way galaxy.
Likewise, I remind myself that I can only see through my own eyes. No matter how much I endeavor to see the world through the other guy’s eyes, I cannot. I can never really “feel his pain.” I can never really understand. Only God can.
More importantly, I cannot see “all that there is” all at once. I cannot see the beginning and the end of every thing and every one. I cannot see how it all fits together. Only God can do this. Only He speaks objective Truth.
And I remind myself how easily I am deceived by my own physical senses. For an example, I quote myself (LOLOL!):
My favorite example is a fly in your car going 5 mph. That is his speed from his perspective as the observer.
But your car is speeding down the road at 65 mph. So for the guy watching you from the roadside table, that fly is going 70 mph.
But the road you have taken is on the equator and the circumference of the earth at the equator is 24,901.55 miles and the earth rotates once every 24 hours. So that fly is now going 1,100 mph + 70 mph = 1,170 mph.
Moreover, the orbital length of earth traveling around the sun is 149,600,000 miles, traveled in 365.25 days. That is 67,000 miles per hour. So add that in, and the fly is going 68,170 mph.
The sun orbits the Milky Way galaxy at a speed of 486,000 miles per hour. Add that in, and the fly is now going 554,170 miles per hour.
All of this and we haven’t gotten to the accelerating expansion of the universe, i.e. space/time itself. Space/time doesn’t pre-exist – it is created as the universe expands.
A galaxy 1 million light years away would seem to be moving away from us at a rate of 60,000 miles per hour. For every 3.26 million light years further out that we look, the galaxies seem to be moving away from us at an additional 162,000 miles per hour. In sum, the universe is currently at least 156 billion light years wide.
And that is looking at motion from the fly’s perspective. If we go in the other direction as “observer” – the quantum – the cumulative velocities are even more mind-boggling.
betty boop has been developing a manuscript for “God and the Observer Problem” and I imagine such things will be addressed in there. IMHO, it is a much needed book - because the “observer problem” affects all kinds of things: culture, politics, education, science, psychology, philosophy and most importantly, our Christian walk.
And so, as you have said in your testimony, I shall also endeavor to readjust my perspective concerning every issue that arrives on my “plate” in this life.
Then Job answered the LORD, and said, I know that thou canst do every [thing], and [that] no thought can be withholden from thee. Who [is] he that hideth counsel without knowledge? therefore have I uttered that I understood not; things too wonderful for me, which I knew not.
Hear, I beseech thee, and I will speak: I will demand of thee, and declare thou unto me. I have heard of thee by the hearing of the ear: but now mine eye seeth thee.
Wherefore I abhor [myself], and repent in dust and ashes. - Job 42:1-6
God’s Name is I AM.