Thoughts on the amoeba
The amoeba is a primal creature, one of the smaller of creatures that we might be ultimately related to. It propagates by simple division, one creating two creatures during its propagation
process. And, unless there is a problem with the division, creating a different individual during the process, both creatures will be identical. One becomes two--two become four--four become eight, etc., etc., etc!
Thus, unless problems that would tend to make new creatures out of the amoeba’s division process occur, the amoeba we might see in our microscope in microbiology class is the identical
creature that began its existance eons and eons ago--making it one of the oldest creatures on this planet. And, it is those problems they might experience that could have made them the initiator of larger creatures, say two
celled creatures, or four celled ones, or multicelled organisms like we ourselves. Something to consider.
So what, you say? Well, just this: Unlike the amoeba, we multicelled creatures, beginning at the point of our inception, are burdened with one issue that is not a problem for the amoeba--that
issue is death. We have our begin points and our end points, like it or not. Where am I going with this? What started me off on this path, that is.
Well, just a few short 24 hours ago, I learned of my Uncle’s death--something I had not realized was something to think about, much less, something that was about to happen any time soon. My uncle
Stu, my mother’s brother, who, due to someone’s typo in some form of correspondence, I lovingly called “Unkle,” passed on to his eternal existance, eternal, that is, until the resurrection promised
to all believers. And, due to the lack of communication on the subject, I was caught totally unprepared. Still, I was able to make the trip to New Albany to provide whatever comfort my presence might have given to the family.
Of course, I do not know how much longer my presence might be available--a fact of existence that all of us must remember and accept (what else can any of us do?)
Amy, Mark, and John, Stu’s children (quite adult, mind you) and various other family members were there. We all came together in sad remembrance. Connie, Stu’s wife, Mother
of my cousins (“Auntie,” to me) was there too, of course, taking on the job she had prepared herself to do to the best of her abilities. Connie, diagnosed with Alzheimer’s several years ago, made herself
remarkably, sadly, available to all in her grief. Unlike the amoeba, we must go on believing what seems to be our end is not, in effect, an endpoint, just a beginning of an intermission for us between that conception and that
resurrection. Praise be to God! We, too, have the same hope eternal that our amoebic friends must possess. What else is there to say? For me there is that hope eternal that must be remembered and passed on to all who will
listen. How we do this is something each of us must decide. You are reading what my decision process brought me to--the written word will last a bit longer than this old body, that much I may assure you.
So read on, my friend, but, better than that, why not try my solution to our dilemma. Start putting down your thoughts on your own existence--your personal past and your hopes for the future.
Read over my thoughts in the accompanying pamphlet, “Autobiographical Trust” and begin at the beginning to write down your thoughts on the proposed questions and the questions that come to you as you work your
way through the proposed exercises. No hurry here. What is needed is a commitment to do the work up to the point of the present and to return to the work periodically until you feel you are ready to proceed to the job of
writing your own personal biography. Do this, and one commitment to your ancestors will be met.
Any questions? (Sure, probably quite a few. BUT, don’t let this stop you. Your answers will come with the doing.)
Good luck. And, on behalf or our progeny, and theirs, and theirs, and, ..., well, I’m sure you get the point, let me say “thank you--thank you very much!”
Amoeba we aren’t. Eternal, though, we just might be.
SVG
5/25/2019
And now,it’s your turn: All you need are a pen and paper, or a computer and printer. Be sure to document your work, and make it as permanent as possible on paper and/or (“and”
is best) on high quality thumb drives--16 gig will probably do fine--two at a minimum--one working copy and a second as a backup (very necessary.) And, of course, the pamphlet:
And again, let me again say “thank you--thank you very much!”
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