Electronic Faith

 Once upon a time, there were two atoms, named Carbon and Hydrogen. They were each other's best friend. Wherever they saw each other, they would hang around together. They would walk together, share with each other stories and make philosophical discussions. Every now and then, digressing from the usual topics, they would start discussing the big topics. You know...; the big ones that you wouldn't normally discuss with everyone; like the existence of something much beyond their perception.

Both being positivists at heart, they would pursue a critical thought and try to rationalize everything. They did not want to admit or accept anything just because it felt that way. Still, they knew that, historically, intuition and inspiration had functioned as guides to the intellect, because they could see what the reason could not. So, Carbon and Hydrogen tried to use their intuition and inspirations, where applicable, to temporarily fill in the gaps of rational thought; hoping that even those gaps would be filled in rationally later. 

In an electronic message, pondering over the existence of something larger and beyond them, Hydrogen said "There sure is something bigger than us. I believe it. There must be a meaning in our existence and motion, there must be an order that we are part of but not aware of. Proof? Whenever all carbons and hydrogens and other fellows are separated, we feel an urge to unite; but when we come together, not in any order but in a certain order, it is as if the entire existence is orienting itself towards us. Atoms from all around are coming to visit us or to join us. We find ourselves in abundant energy raining on us from everywhere. And if we happen to fall into discord and try to break away from that order, it is as if that energy rain is withheld, and then particles are sent to force us back into the same order.  When you talk to others who come from distant places, they tell the same thing from their past experience. Thinking about all these, I conclude that if you see the same order everywhere, there must be an overarching paradigm explaining them all." 

But Carbon was more sceptical. He objected instantly, and replied: "How do you know? How can you be so sure? What if there isn't? What if there are a ton of other events unbeknownst to us, and we are nothing but a minor, lucky coincidence? What if our exchange of electrons carry no meaning other than a wind of energy?"

Upon this, Hydrogen resented, and expressed her disappointment in another electronic message: "You mean our friendship carries no meaning at all other than swirling around some vagabond electrons? You did not even know that I existed. You had no means of knowing me before I came here in a caravan of hydrogens and oxygens. Yet, here I am. Your lack of ability to know doesn't mean I did not exist before. In this vast, dark space, we are able to know only so little, but our feelings show things before they are available to us through physical contact. If we are in a lucky universe, I believe that there are other universes that are as lucky as ours."

It was true. Carbon's worries about the non-existence of a meaning in their existence and motions was due to not knowing, whereas Hydrogen's belief in the existence of a meaning in what is around and beyond was based on observation. If you see order around yourself, why would you expect to see disorder in the so-called unlucky universes? To prove your worries correct? If your theories are powered by your worries, you are nothing but a pessimistic believer in the disguise of an objective positivist. With this spark of hope, Carbon joined Hydrogen in her imagination of the other universes. Other lucky uinverses, which together make up another orderly existence. A continuum of lucky universes where the individuals making them up are not aware of and unable to recognize what they are part of.

Hydrogen loved this kind of thought, and she followed up with her inspirations: "And those lucky universes could have personalities like us, they could be friends and love each other. Their unity and continuum could make up another universe of unimaginable scale where beauty and order displays itself in a way only available to those who are welcoming perceptions of that astronomic scale."

"Can we not know ever?", Carbon asked. "Why can we think of an order and beauty, if we are not able to see it ever? You said it; if we can feel it, there must be a way to it. I wish I could figure that out."

After a sigh of yearning, Hydrogen added: "I guess we need to break away from our current universe and rise to the unknown levels of existence to see it. But anyways, you are my micromirror to it, and I am the lucky one to look at it."

Generous Phone Owner

Once upon a time, there was a rich and genereous phone owner. This person had hundreds of smart phones of varying levels of technology and price. Some phones were affordable even by the lower middle class, whereas some were only reserved for the rich elite. One day, the generous phone owner decided to give these phones in trust to the friends and see their reaction in the long term.

When giving the phones to the friends, the owner said: "take these phones; you can use them as you wish; just make your phone line payments and do the phones' maintenances if necessary; I am going to take them from you later."

This offer by the generous phone owner made the friends very happy at first. Some received just one phone, some a few, and others tens of phones. They expressed gratitude to the owner for the offer and for the trust. As the days and weeks passed by, however, not only their use of these phones but also their attitude toward the phones' real owner changed dramatically.

At first, everybody was happy and enjoying what they had in their hands. But later on, those who were given more phones started to make financial gains using those phones, like crypto currencies and rental services, etc. This made the ones with less number of phones jealous of them. Soon, unable to change anything, their jealousy turned into a grudge against the generous phone owner who had done this. Had those phones never been given in the first place, such injustice would not have happened.

Aware of what was going on, some good willed fellows with more number of phones gave some of what they had to those with less. Unfortunately, these were not many, and most of the multiple-phone owners went on with their business without a regard for others. So, the rich was constantly getting richer, but those with a single or a few phones stayed as they were.

This state of the people was even reflected on their attitudes towards each other. Many of the rich ones sat in their homes located in large estates, and spoke proudly of their wealth that was gained due to their wise investments. Many poor ones, however, kept complaining about the generous phone owner, saying "what have I done to you to deserve this."

A few among them all, be them rich or poor, realized that all this was essentially a grant that was given without asking for a return. So, instead of fostering jealousy towards each other or a grudge against the generous phone owner, they kept their initial gratitude fresh and used their phones in the best way they can.

One day, when everybody was engulfed in their business and not thinking about the day of collection of the phones, the real owner appeared at their doors one by one. Some took on very disrespectful attitudes towards the owner, saying "I have been taking care of these phones, while you have done nothing; you don't deserve to claim them back." Some others silently and sadly returned the phones. Especially for those less fortunate in the beginning, this day seemed very satisfying, because it meant getting even with everybody else. 

A minority, though, seemed very happy to see the real owner and expressed sincere gratitude for the trust and grant given to them, no matter how much it was. They told what they had done with those phones and what profits and good willed actions they did. 

The real owner collected all of the phones and listened to all of the friends and observed their attitudes. Later on, as an expression of magnanimity, the owner gave cutting-edge technology smart devices to those that acted as generously and benevolently. Those who embraced arrogant or ungrateful attitudes, however, had to face the consequences of their bad demeanor. The generous phone owner did not pay much attention to them anymore, leaving them out of the circle of friends.