I have believed for some time that the universe continues to attempt to teach us what we're here to learn until we learn it. As each passing lesson becomes more painful, I often ask myself what it is i'm supposed to get that i'm not getting so I can pass through it into some more peaceful existence. I've also come to believe that I always get the answers, as we all do in some fashion, but do not always pay attention.
I really can't remember the last time I turned on my TV, but today I flipped to an old favorite....Star Trek. Now, I know that any of my friends that may read this are far from Trekkies, but I tell you there is more spiritual meaning and universal truth about humanity in this show than any other i've seen, except perhaps Xena. :)
The episode is "Ensigns of Command" and it's about a civilization of humans stranded on a hostile, radioactive planet that is about to be colonized by an alien race. The Enterprise, thinking that these people will be happy to evacuate such an "unliveable" condition and their certain destruction, send Data (the android) to coordinate. The people there, however, are excited to show their visitors how much they have accomplished---they have brought an aqauduct of water into the desert and have adapted to the radiation. They are so invested in their accomplishments and their legacy that they refuse to leave, even if it means certain death..
Ensign Data, struggling with the perplexities of the human psyche, tries many things to convince them to no avail. As a last ditch effort, he destroys the aquaduct, giving them no choice but to leave.
Okay, okay, I get it! I get the message already! The things that I have clung to inside me, been so proud of, relished, bathed in...they are oh so familiar...but in the scheme of things.....insignificant compared to what I could be. My final aquaduct destroyed, I have seen the enemy and she is me. So beam me up, warp 3, and engage.
