An indifferent universe conspired to give me life
From a wonderful slide posted by @uksceptic:
I believe that when I die I shall rot, and nothing of my ego will survive. I love that my molecules will be consumed and my atoms will be recycled into endless forms. I am grateful that an indifferent universe conspired to give me life, and I believe that enjoying it is all the more important because my life will be short. I believe that should I be so vain as to wish a legacy that it will be in the behaviour of my children. Punishment, torture and blame are not part of my worldview, and do not inform my behaviour in this, the only realm.
@uksceptic attributes the slide to Adam Rutherford, in a presentation at The Amaz!ng Meeting London this past weekend. I don't know for sure, but suspect that the Adam Rutherford in question is this contributor to the Guardian. He also happens to be an editor at Nature and a host of various programmes on BBC radio and TV, according to his sidebar bio.
When I first read it Saturday morning, the paragraph resonated strongly with me. It still does on re-reading it now. My only concern with its content is with the reification of the universe in the phrasing "an indifferent universe conspired." This is a minor issue though, and I do believe it can be taken as a successful use of artistic license. Within the context of the paragraph as a whole, one can't help but read the deeper implied meaning that of course the universe in no way conspired to give life, nor in fact to do anything at all. In this sense, and this sense alone, it is nigh miraculous that any of us is here; we should each be grateful for the opportunity we have to live a life, but not assign any greater meaning to it than that we are alive.