“Who are we? We find that we live on an insignificant planet of a humdrum star lost in a galaxy tucked away in some forgotten corner of a universe in which there are far more galaxies than people.” (Carl Sagan)
I stumbled upon two quotes by astronomer Carl Sagan. This first one sure makes a person feel pointless and insignificant. Is it this barren experience of life that leads people to do such stupid things? Is it this that causes so much depression, suicide, addiction, dissatisfaction? Afterall, what’s the point? To quote Billy Talent in the song “Nothing To Lose” (about teen suicide): “There’s nothing to lose when no one knows your name”.
And then there is the other quote, one that speaks of hope and expectation. “Somewhere, something incredible is waiting to be known.” Actually, its Someone incredible. I find it especially interesting that it was Carl Sagan who wrote “Contact”, a fascinating journey of faith into another world out there, looking for extra-terrestrial intelligence. The main character in that novel concludes “there isn’t compelling evidence that God exists… and there isn’t compelling evidence that he doesn’t.” It seems to me that he was looking for that “something” but was not able to find that Someone. He just could not dismiss God!
Well, whatever he was looking for, he has finally met the something that is a Someone!