[NASA, Public Domain]
I found myself reflecting on this last night. . .
Every human being is like a universe. Metaphorically speaking, a host of galaxies.
Did you know that there are more atoms in just one strand of DNA than there are stars in most galaxies? That is beautiful and actually true!
Here’s the quote about this from Neil deGrasse Tyson:
“There are as many atoms in each molecule of your DNA as there are stars in the typical galaxy. This is true for dogs, and bears, and every living thing. We are, each of us, a little universe.” – The Cosmos: A Spacetime Odyssey, Episode 2
Every human being, every animal, and every plant is gloriously intricate. Life is amazing in all its complexity and particularity.
This quote about atoms and DNA blows my mind, and it also expands how I think about my fellow human beings.
A little universe. . .
. . . the server from the restaurant where I ate lunch.
. . . the person who brings our mail.
. . . the person I passed on the street and will never see again.
. . . the internet troll.
. . . the person who is facing deportation.
I wish we truly saw each other in all our complexity and particularity. I want to open myself to this.
It doesn’t mean that we would instantly and magically all get along. It also doesn’t mean we shouldn’t decry horrific behavior. But it would certainly make it harder to dehumanize one another. And gracious, we need that.
I want to work more on this.
Humanity – a multiverse of beings in all their complexity and particularity.
