Change is inevitable. Nothing is permanent. We often hear these phrases. The universe has been in constant motion since the beginning, from the Big Bang to the present, and this progression continues into what we refer to as the future. This movement is a testament to the idea that the entire cosmos is like a breathing, living entity. From this perspective, can you sense the universe’s breath? Can we suggest that God is breathing?
In a universe so dynamic, nothing remains unchanged. If we encounter something that seems unchanging, it might be a sign of death, suggesting it is no longer part of the universe. From a certain viewpoint, stasis can be likened to stagnant water: motionless but accumulating toxins. Eventually, what appears is a lifeless pond.
Yet, that’s only one side of the story. In a broader context, paradoxically, even death signifies life. Both life and death are the rhythmic pulses of the universe. Even in what seems like a stagnant, lifeless pond, at the microscopic level, countless bacteria thrive and perish, treating the pond as their vast universe.
We die because we live. We live, and thus, we die. Stagnation is merely the counterpart to flow. Put simply, what seems unchanging may very well be the hallmark of change. Let’s delve deeper into the idea that change is inevitable and that nothing is permanent. In essence, the universe does not permit us or anything else to remain unchanged. As long as we exist within the confines of time and space, nothing is truly unchanging. Change is the core characteristic of time and space. Nothing is permanent because eternity exists solely within the timeless and spaceless realm of infinity.
With this in mind, what are the characteristics of change? They could be defined by beginnings and endings. Everything has a start and a conclusion. What follows an end is the beginning. Immediately after one chapter closes, another opens, with potential exceptions being the primal events like the Big Bang and its speculative counterpart, the Big Crunch. Yet, these remain theoretical concepts.
Was there an ending before the Big Bang? By definition, there’s no “before the Big Bang” since time and space did not exist prior to it. Similarly, there’s no “after the Big Crunch.” If such an event were to occur, time and space would cease post-event.
The cosmos lives through this rhythm. What about individual life? From the perspective of our consciousness, there is no “before my birth” because there is no way for “me” to recognize firsthand experiences of time and space before I came into existence. Similarly, there’s no concept of “after my death” as there is no way for “me” to recognize firsthand experiences of time and space once I cease to be.
While this is the case from my conscious viewpoint, on a grander cosmic scale, my birth and death are merely part of ongoing change. My existence is the outcome of countless deaths from prior generations. Without their ends, my beginning here would not have been possible. This goes beyond simple familial lineage. Multiple endings give rise to numerous beginnings. Similarly, my eventual demise will undoubtedly pave the way for myriad new starts. This isn’t limited to the concept of my physical end, but also includes various conclusions in my life, each leading to fresh starts. The same is true for every entity and individual in this universe.
Let’s pause and reflect on this cosmic rhythm of change. It’s as if God is taking breaths in and out. It signifies our existence within the domains of time and space, where there’s a continuous cycle of birth and death, both literally and metaphorically.
Verily, verily, I say unto you, Except a corn of wheat fall into the ground and die, it abideth alone: but if it die, it bringeth forth much fruit.
John 12:24
I begin writing a new piece after finishing my previous one. I start a new book after completing the one before. We begin a new chapter of life after concluding the last. The book of our lives had a beginning and will have an end. Yet, there are countless life stories that God reads every day. An ending is a beginning. A beginning is an ending.
I am Alpha and Omega, the beginning and the end, the first and the last
Revelation 22:13
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