AES104 A Pale Blue Dot

“It suddenly struck me that that tiny pea, pretty and blue, was Earth. I put up my thumb and shut one eye, and my thumb blotted out the planet Earth.

I didn’t feel like a giant, I felt very, very small”

-Neil Armstrong-

It’s amazing to see that all of human history has taken place on this small planet called Earth. Everyone you care for, everyone you hate, everyone you have ever known, will all live and die here.

The most profound spiritual experience anyone can have, is to look at our planet from the vastness of space. This little ball of blue and green is everything you have ever known. From a distance, the things that revolve our lives around seem so small, so insignificant.

We have spent a thousand years in the dark, only to spend one day in the sunlight

On a cosmic scale, we are smaller than a speck of dust, our short lives are nothing compared to the heartbeats of the universe. But it’s exactly this insignificance that gives our lives so much meaning. We are not supposed to be here, but we’re here anyway. Let’s make sure we don’t waste it.

You are an interesting species. An interesting mix. You’re capable of such beautiful dreams, and such horrible nightmares. You feel so cut off, so alone, only you’re not. See, in all our searching, the only thing that makes the emptiness bearable – is each other.

-Carl Sagan-

Our greed and short-sightedness has brought problems that will soon become permanent. What we need right now, is to be honest with ourselves and take responsibility for our actions. All we have is each other, and this tiny ball of dirt we call Earth. If we are not careful, we may be one of the last ones to cherish it.

It’s a scary yet sobering thought. All our lives we’ve been searching for something greater than ourselves, something to care about, something to dedicate your life to. We take comfort in myths and distract ourselves from what’s really important. Look around you, see the faces you love, this place you call home.

This is what we will fight for.