Momentous possibilities in our finite lives

Just a moment!  Take a moment!  Live in the moment!
Momentous possibilities in our finite lives.

I’m sure we have all puzzled over what possible cosmic distances are being referred to in Buzz Lightyear’s famous call before he jumped:

“To infinity and beyond!”

And isn’t it odd that the word “moment,” is usually used to specify a very small or particular point in time, but it actually comes from the Latin word “momentum” meaning, quite clearly, “motion.”
With a point of view ranging from the vast cosmos to the tiniest molecule, we’ll explore what rich meaning some very wise thinkers on the subject of "infinity" have packed into the idea of our own “finite” lives. A bit scary, quite inspiring, and very encouraging.  

First Reading 

The first reading is taken from a book, actually more like an essay, called Cosmic View. It was written by Cornelis Boeke, known popularly as “Kees.” Born in 1884, he was a Dutch reformist, an educator, a Quaker missionary, and a pacifist. We’ll be hearing more about him and his work during the Perspective(s). Here is an excerpt from that book:

We all, children and grownups alike, are inclined to live in our own little world, in our immediate surroundings, or at any rate with our attention concentrated on those things with which we are directly in touch. We tend to forget how vast are the ranges of existing reality which our eyes cannot directly see, and our attitudes may become narrow and provincial. We need to develop a wider outlook, to see ourselves in our relative position in the great and mysterious universe in which we have been born and live.

At school, we are introduced to many different spheres of existence, but they are often not connected with each other, so that we are in danger of collecting a large number of images without realizing that they all join together in one great whole. It is therefore very important  in our education – even as adults – to find the means of developing a wider and more connected view of our world and a truly cosmic view of the universe and our place in it.

Second Reading

Here are the words of William Blake, the English poet, painter, and printmaker. Born in 1757, he was ahead of his time with his emotional and sensitive styled poetry, including “Tyger,” “Jerusalem,” and “Songs of Innocence and of Experience” which he also illustrated. This excerpt is from his poem “Auguries of Innocence.”