Time… a concept that man has oft pondered at. I have thought much of time lately. I have thought of its fragility, of its passing, and of the power that it holds over all of humanity, and indeed over all things. Time held the answers to the greatest scientific questions of the 16 and 17th centuries; and, many also think that it holds the answers to some of this eras most problematic and otherworldly scientific questions.
Time… how does one measure its passing? For, when was time’s beginning, and when will time end; that is, if time is ever to come to an end. Time will eventually destroy everything as there is nothing in this world that can outlast it. Our modern skyscrapers, our stone bridges, our Cristo Redentors and Eiffel Towers will all eventually succumb to the passing of time. Their metal and stone will rust and erode away… mirroring humanity’s own capitulation to time; for, eventually, our hearts will stop beating. It seems to me, that with all the awesome power it holds, humanity should be worshiping and praying to time – but, that would be silly wouldn’t it? We try so very hopelessly to preserve our most treasured historical documents, artifacts and landmarks. But, they too will acquiesce to time. Perhaps time does not heal all wounds but creates new ones.
Considering the sheer scope of time, our existence here on this Earth is so very short. But, time is not all destruction and death… while it does truly destroy all it also gives rise to several wondrous human concepts. Humanity partitions time into three relative categories: the past, present and future. It is the future that gives us hope, it is the future that serves as motivation for humanity to better itself. One may sit and wonder what the world will be like in 100 or 1,000 years. Will things have been destroyed? Yes. But, in their place we have a chance to place something beautiful, something venerable and something far more exceptional that what preceded it.
Time truly is relative; but, it is what we have been given… it is how we ultimately define our world and how we measure our existence. Use it wisely – do not despair at its passing and embrace the opportunities that time sometimes affords us. I think Robert Herrick related it best when he wrote in a poem:
” Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,
Old Time is still a-flying:
And this same flower that smiles today
To-morrow will be dying.”
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