Waits for No Man

We neatly categorize our lives and the lives of others into segments: milliseconds, seconds, minutes, hours, days, weeks, months, years, decades, centuries, etc. Altogether, everything is measured, the worth of every action is validated by this system known as 'time'. It can be counted down, added up, and kept close track of, but it can only ever go in one direction: forward. It is because of this that we must, at all times, have the good sense to make the 'right' choice in every situation. Even if we do nothing, time will pass us by in enough quantity so that we end up regretting having squandered it. Is this fair? Why must we never experience the mercy of a second chance? If we are not beings capable of foresight, why establish such an unforgiving system? What is the purpose of living with regret or being left to wonder about the path not taken? Are there places out there where time does not flow in only one direction?

Sense of Self

Throughout our lives, we enter and exit the lives of others. Our presence leaves a residue a change within them and, regardless of impression, they will never be the same again. This is because all that is seen or heard can never be unseen or unheard. However, change within ourselves occurs as well, because it is also the one whose life we enter also enters our own. A ripple effect occurs throughout the network of one's life as change causes change; thus, affecting other people other than the intended subject. Can any of us truly claim to have our own unique identities if we are influenced so? Is the character of one merely the pieces of others? Or do we take from others and make something that is our own?

Beyond the Bounds

There are those with strength beyond normal human capacities, capable of lifting, pushing, and pulling weight much greater than the average man, capable of breaking down both object and foe. They train their bodies throughout the entirety of their lives to reach this level of 'super-human'. There are also those whom are more intellectually capable than the norm, capable of dreaming up solutions none have dared to dream before and pondering that which most people simply take for granted. Most are born with the capacity to reach brilliance, but most dedicate their entire consciousness to the pursuit of specific information.

Both go beyond the limitations of the human condition in body and mind, but how does one exceed the human limitations of the soul? Can one truly be more than human? Does the discarding of one's humanity and all emotion with it allow him/her to advance into something new? Or is that component necessary and without it, we degrade into something less than human? Is that how a person leaves their species and becomes a monster or reaches a higher level of being?

Rest Where You May

Interestingly enough, there is no 'official' biblical description of Hell nor Lucifer. One can attribute the vision of an organized, multi-layered place of torture to the creativity of writers much greater than myself. The Lucifer we identify originates from misconceptions experienced by ancestors who were too closed-minded to fully comprehend the scriptures and deities of other religions. Regardless, in virtually every single belief system, the afterlife of the damned and the one entity responsible for it all varies endlessly in both consequence and appearance.

This leads me to believe that Hell is what we make of it. In the past, the fears of people were simple; thus, the simple image of a fiery pit would be forever accepted in our minds. However, as we (and our fears) become more complex, our eternal suffering takes on new and horrifying forms. As with Lucifer, people dream up of new ways to represent the symbol of everything fallen over the years and reinvent him in, previously, unimaginable forms. If Hell is truly a place of ultimate punishment, it would make sense if the realm itself changes in accordance with what we fear the most and its ruler assume the appropriate form.

If Heaven is meant to be the opposite, the place of ultimate reward for the righteous, does it follow the same rules? Are we the architects of our own Heaven and Hell, based on the fears and joys of our souls? Certainly no one form of either destination would sufficiently serve to effectively torment or uplift every single human being.

Heart to Heart

Taking into account the countless biological factors of genetics, chemistry (literally), pheromones, hormones, and bio-kinetic energy; as well as other factors such as: psychology, man-made inventions, body language, Darwinism, intervention of others, and extenuating circumstances, how can one actually be expected to identify what true love is? According to science, a level of affection can be simulated simply by consuming a bar of chocolate. Can there really be such things as 'meant to be' or 'soul mates'? Is attraction a random lottery? Is the human species limited to having compassion merely for the best possible continuation of our species?

Innate Legacy

In a controlled scientific experiment, newborn birds were revealed to instinctively hide or shield themselves when introduced to the sight of a hawk or other predatory bird. Although never having seen a predator before, they are automatically aware that the image is a threat. It has also been revealed that other infant animals of different species show similar instincts that seem to manifest themselves without prior experience or knowledge.  Is this a genetic trait? What instincts are humans born with? Is each person born with base impulses that are different from each other? Or do we share the same as a uniform species? What do we identify as our natural enemies?

Be Your Own God

The world as we know it is said to be formed from the properties of time and space. Time is often defined as: the measure of seconds, minutes, hours, etc. that serves to transform organic and non-organic entities to maturation, transformation, alteration, and expiration. Space is the material and immaterial, everything that that can be measured in distance, height, weight, meters, liters, etc. Using both time and/or space, anything can be created/destroyed. However, it is claimed that only a god may be able to truly create/destroy.

Reality, essentially, is the world as each of us perceives it. Every person on Earth retains their own perceptions and, therefore, realities to deal with. Ergo, if reality is what we perceive, can we not be tricked by illusions of time and space? Is an illusionist comparable to that of a god? Through lies and falsehoods, can we not become architects of our worlds and the worlds of others? If we believe a lie to be true and incorporate it into our own reality, can it become truth?