May I Have this Dance?

The universe is something so vast that we cannot even begin to comprehend its magnitude or scale. Our jargon cannot justly paint the picture of the universe that we all long to see. We use words like “astronomical unit” to express the distance that separates us from the sun, roughly 93 million miles. But honestly, can we fathom 93 million miles? In our world, a few thousand miles seems like an endless expanse. When was the last time that any of us saw 93 million of anything? How is the brain supposed to digest such an enormous number? This does not even begin to take into account the insanely large size of our solar system, or the Milky Way, or our cluster of galaxies. It is this lack of understanding, this lack of adequate words of description, that has encouraged man to develop myths as to how, and more importantly why, the universe began. Ever since the beginning of time, man has sought for answers to these mind-boggling questions. With courage, humility, and a little bit of blind faith, we have developed beliefs that Zeus rests high above and rules the world, or that God is ever-present and set the universe into motion with a sigh, creating mountains and raging rivers with nothing more than “Let there be…” As humans, we implore this faith to try and explain how the cosmos came to be in the first place. It now appears that a new explanation can be inserted into this list, the scientific explanation of creation.

Only relatively recently did the scientific explanation of creation come into play as an explanation for the origins of the universe. The LHC plays a huge part in filling in the gaps in this particular story. The LHC is an experiment that has global ramifications. As the Large Hadron Collider prepares to launch particles into one another at 99.99% the speed of light, what can we expect to occur? Will the Earth be swallowed into an endless black hole, or will we gain knowledge that will unlock mysteries that can bring light to a world lost in the shadows of science? This mammoth machine presents endless possibilities, but ironically it may present “the end” as well. It is amazing that one machine can present hope, yet possible doom, simultaneously. Our minds cannot even fathom what answers may lay within the work of the LHC. As the reckless particles prepare to collide with one another, our hearts wait in anxious anticipation for the final product. The energy created in this union of particles will be unlike any we have ever encountered. The power produced will be colossal. But how much of our thirst for knowledge will be met through this endeavor? Can re-creating the conditions directly after the Big Bang bring us any true satisfaction, or will we only be pushed to answer even more complex questions? Better yet, are answers really what we seek, or does the real importance rest in our pursuit of the answers?

Despite the numerous questions that the LHC may offer an answer to, it can never explain the biggest question. Why? A question whose many answers have helped mold the world as we know it today. Where did this dense ball of matter come from? Why was it there? Who put it there? These questions can never be answered while we are on this Earth. Many think we will never know, while others feel that as their bodies pass from this world they will enter a Godly realm where all of these questions will be answered. The catch is that while we walk the face of this Earth, we do not know. We cannot know. Moreover, are we supposed to know? The mystery of it all is what makes consciousness such an interesting experience. The spontaneity that a life of wonder and curiosity fosters provides the human brain with endless adventures. We never know what tomorrow may bring, but even if science could tell you, would you want to know? For some this thought is scary, for others rewarding. But for all of us, the intricacies of Earth and of our existence have created a uniquely human experience that is unexplainable at times. Regardless of its origins, the Earth is undoubtedly “just right” for human life. This wonder at Earth’s “perfectness” is what keeps us coming back for more. The beauty of Earth is like that of a gorgeous woman. She is graceful and fierce, beautiful, yet capable of immense power, humble, but in total control. She holds control over all of us, yielding the power to end our lives at any moment. Thankfully, she allows us to come and go as we please, exploiting her generosity at every turn. It is as if she is the host of the party and we are guests that come and go at will. As the lady of the house, she sends invitations to each of us, welcoming each of us to stop by for some tea and crumpets. We arrive at the doorstep, barely acknowledging the hostess, rushing to the dance floor, looking for a fun time with friends. Despite our disregard of her hospitality, she throws a perfect party, allowing us to drink and be merry while she looks on, laughing at our fickle state. She was here long before us and will be around long after we are gone, yet she humbly allows us to make an appearance at her party. Who do we have to thank for this beauty, for this “just right” night club called Earth?

The LHC does not have these answers, and neither do your parents or your friends or your preacher. Faith in something greater than ourselves is what separates humans from all other organisms. But it is just that, faith. It is a belief in something that we cannot see or prove or show to someone else. Yet we believe that this all powerful God has the whole world in his hands, holding this ball we call Earth just as Cy Young would hold a baseball. Through the courageous work of the LHC, we have a chance to discover what exactly we are, besides being a 6000 mile per hour fastball.

Are we meant to understand the intricacies of this complex lady, or should we just go with the flow and embrace what comes at us one day at a time? Is it dangerous to invest all of our effort and time into this mysterious realm of the unknown? Is anything ever gained if we do not take some risks every now and again? A willingness to go out on a limb and make bold predictions is dangerous, yet extremely powerful. No matter how strong our desire, we will never have all the answers. The LHC will certainly open new doors of knowledge and discovery, but even it will not provide all the answers. Nor can faith give all the answers, because it is just that, faith. Despite these lingering questions, we know one thing for certain. That if we are to grow in knowledge, understanding, and even happiness, we must have the courage to embrace the mystery around us with open arms. If we can push fear aside for just a moment, we allow ourselves the opportunity to experience things never before seen.

Joseph sat under the stars, contemplating. Thoughts of her ran through his brain as if they were on a mission to preoccupy his soul. She was mysterious, yet predictable. Change was her only predictable trait, but it was the change that intrigued him so. Always there, amazing him with her endless beauty. She presented immeasurable opportunities, as well as utter destruction. The bit of unknown is what made it all so interesting to him. He could not pinpoint how it would all turn out, no matter how hard he tried. But he had faith in her, faith that she was the one and that she held the key to a happy future. The key that would open his eyes to what the world truly had to offer. As he pondered these thoughts, the situation grew increasingly hairy. He always calculated the risks involved in any situation, but this situation presented too many unknowns for him to make any bold predictions. The nervousness coursed through his veins, cluttering his thoughts, drying his throat and making his hands clammy. No matter how much he fought it, the feelings would not, could not, subside. His attempts to control it were futile. What made this feeling so powerful? These two spirits joining were what had first caused man to thrive. It was this force that made life, and it was this force that made the universe seem whole to Joseph. Finally, it was here. The time had come for Joseph to put his neck on the line and risk it all. Placing his life in the hands of another was scary. Nothing leaves one more vulnerable to hurt than a bare soul. He began to sweat as the moment drew nearer. With his nerves frazzled to nothingness, his foot began to tap. The anxious state of his heart could be seen through his eyes. He reached in his pocket, searching for the ring that, once on her finger, would make his life not his own, but hers as well. Even though he knew he loved her, the thought caused his head to ache and his heart to race. Filled with these exciting yet scary thoughts, he forced himself to look up. Joseph watched as she stepped out of the darkness and into the aisle, all eyes awaiting the decision. There she stood, the veil covering those beautiful blue eyes. With his entire body shaking, he reached for the ring. This decision would not answer all of Joseph’s questions, but then again, the questions were not exactly what he wanted anyways. The adventure he would take with her was what this experiment called marriage was all about. The potential outcome was unknown, but Joseph knew that this single act would allow him the opportunity to have a happy life. Not necessarily a life with all the answers, but a life of curiosity and unpredictability that would make for a hell of a ride.

Courage

At the ripe young age of 9, I set out on an adventure that I still experience every fall; deer hunting. Ever since I can remember, I have loved the outdoors, and especially deer. Somewhere inside of my DNA, some incognito sequence of adenosine and thymine, or maybe guanine and cytosine, controls a hormone release that sends me into the woods when it is 20 degrees outside in a bone chilling wind. To any normal person, getting up early on a Saturday just to endure these less than inviting conditions is ridiculous, a clear sign of insanity. Not to a Pierson. My father has been hunting since his teens, spending every free moment sitting in a tree, looking for a deer. To my mother’s dismay, she did not get the romantic vacations most newlyweds experience before children and careers make their appearances. Instead of spending vacations traveling to exotic locations and eating candlelight dinners, my dad would opt to spend vacation time deer hunting. He would spend every morning and night in the woods, usually 6 or 7 hours a day. As you can imagine, this is not the future most brides envision on their wedding day, but I guess he picked the right lady- she is still hanging around twenty-seven years later. This love, respect, and adoration of hunting flowed right through that X chromosome and landed smack dab in the middle of me. Our family albums are filled with pictures of a chubby, buck-toothed, blond-headed lad in camouflage, sitting on the tailgate of an old Ford truck with a mustached man and a deer. I would not trade those memories for anything, for it is those experiences that have made me into the person I am today.

∞

In 1990, scientists embarked on one of the most intense and impressive scientific inquiries ever. The Human Genome Project set out to explore you and me. What is it that makes us tick? An attempt to discover the approximately 25,000 genes in the human DNA sequence was no doubt a massive undertaking; one that many people doubted. Deciphering the nearly 3 billion base pairs in DNA seemed even more improbable. As these scientists set out on a voyage into the unknown, they had no clear path ahead of them but instead had to forage around in the darkness, looking for the sights and sounds that would point them in the right direction. Just as a hunter studies tracks and trails searching for clues, these scientists sought the clues that would help them capture their prey; the mysteries of the human genome.

∞

In Robert Frost’s poem Into my Own, he says, “I should not be withheld but that some day/ into their vastness I should steal away/ Fearless of ever finding open land/ or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand/ I do not see why I should e’er turn back/ Or those should not set forth upon my track/ To overtake me, who should miss me here/ And long to know if still I held them dear/ They would not find me changed from him they knew--/ Only more sure of all I thought was true”. Frost delves into the wilderness in this poem. He finds no reason to turn back from this adventure, and no reason why others should not follow him into the unknown landscape ahead. In this place, Frost is able to see himself more clearly than ever before, and his beliefs suddenly become more tangible, as if he could pluck them from the air like a feather on the wind. By exploring the mysteries hidden in the labyrinth of the dark woods, Frost learns not only more about the woods, but the woods help Frost to learn more about himself.

∞

As I trudge into the trees every fall, I listen to and watch my surroundings with earnest. I never fail to learn something about myself with every step I take. The power of silence and solitude here is stronger than anywhere I know. The clarity of thought I find in this place allows a glimpse into my heart and soul that is not experienced every day. As I look at my reflection in a mountain brook, the image I see is clearer than any I would find in a mirror. In that image I see more than a face; I see myself, faults and impurities exposed, staring back at me. This image encourages me to examine my life so that I can be content with the stranger staring back at me in the water.

∞

“They would not find me changed from they knew--/ Only more sure of all I thought was true”. It seems that Mr. Frost and I are on the same page. The search for the soul in nature is a journey that leads us to new places and possibilities that we never imagined possible. By allowing submersion into this unknown wilderness, we allow nature to speak to us. Not in a booming voice that shouts to us in the night, but with a whisper from the wind, a shrill cry from a cicada, the hollow hoot of a wise owl.

∞

In the year 2003, they did it. All of the genes in the human genome were uncovered, the grime cleaned off, the marble polished until it shone. Where will this monumental discovery lead is in the future? The uncovering of this information has allowed us to learn about a pretty interesting creation, ourselves. As of yet, we are not sure where this discovery will lead, but we can be certain that it will lead us to a better understanding of “us.” The ability to look into ourselves and see exactly what it is that makes us the way we are is now a reality that we have the opportunity to explore. 25,000 genes, 3 billion base pairs: one intense exploration of ourselves. “I should not be withheld but that some day/ Into their vastness I should steal away/ Fearless of ever finding open land/ or highway where the slow wheel pours the sand”.

∞

“They would not find me changed from him the knew--/ Only more sure of all I thought was true”. The message echoes in the woods. It also echoes in the Human Genome Project. This voyage into the hard drive of the human body allows for a better understanding of ourselves. My time in the woods serves in the same manner to facilitate introspection that can be obtained through no other medium. The sense of being alive that I experience in the woods cannot, for me, be felt anywhere else. The deeper truths that these journeys allow me to confront not only teach about the world, but also help me to strengthen and solidify faith in myself. In the same way that a bird has to leave its nest to learn to fly, I leave my “nest” and jump into the woods. This flight is what teaches me about, well, me. It is here that I develop my ability to fly in a world full of people who are content to sit in their nest, never risking a trip into the unknown. The Human Genome Project took this risk as well, and it now soars with the eagles. No one is certain where this flight will lead, but we can be certain that if not for the efforts of the Human Genome Project, we would still be sitting in the nest.