POST # 244
The title of today's blog is not to be confused with the movie, "It's a Wonderful Life", although it is related.
I recently finished reading a book with this title, by author, Stephen Jay Gould, a paleontologist.
One of the main themes of the book is one of contingency.
http://www.dictionary.com/browse/contingency?s=t
The book explores how humans came to evolve. It's a fascinating read, as it explains how if the tape of evolution could be replayed, the odds are high that we may never have come into existence at all. Now that really is something to think about.
In the movie we see how the future changes when the character George Bailey is shown by his guardian angel Clarence, how many things changed in the future as a result of him not being born. Contingency.
In the book, we are shown how a certain fossil* that existed around 570 million years ago, could be our ancestor, and if it wouldn't have existed, we may not even be here. Contingency.
Reading this book certainly helps to put the trials and tribulations of daily life into perspective.
We exist. Let's just try to enjoy the ride for as long as we can.
*Pikaia was a primitive creature that lacked a well-defined head and averaged about 1 1⁄2 inches (3.8 cm) in length. It is closely related to the ancestor of all vertebrates; as such, it receives otherwise-inordinate attention among the multitude of animal fossils found in the famous Burgess Shale in the mountains of British Columbia, Canada.
living a life of profound acceptance,
Paul
The Thoughtful Wanderer
THOUGHTFUL: showing consideration for others; occupied with or given to thought; contemplative; meditative. WANDERER: moving from place to place without a fixed plan; or having no permanent residence; nomadic.
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