Skip to main content

The Swirling Circle of Life


We learn in chemistry and biology classes that water is the most essential element (it's a compound, but whatever) for life. Our cells are mostly water. Our planet is mostly water. The very process by which we breathe and turn oxygen and carbon into energy ends in the production of water. This simple combination of the first element and the most abundant element in our Earth's crust is what makes us thrive. It connects us to plants in the most uncanny way--while our cells make water to thrive, plant cells break water to feed themselves.

This basic, essential element of life is what breathes life to life.

Whether you are a staunch Creationist or accepting of Evolution, the theory is the same--life came forth from water. From Genesis, we are told that on the fifth day, God commanded the seas to teem forth with living creatures; whereas the land did not receive this same commandment until the sixth day.

Tracing the story of the evolution of life on the planet, we discover that before creatures walked the earth, life had to emerge from the sea. And considering the life-giving properties of water, one should understand the reluctance to do so. (tongue-in-cheek). When planetary scientists look for signs of life on other planets, they comb the surface (albeit from afar) for signs of anything that resembles water. One of the pioneers of microbiology, Anton von Leeuwenhoek, first described microorganisms as little "animalcules" by looking where? In rain water. 

Not only is water an essential element for biological life, but also, it is a symbol in spiritual life. We baptize with water. We cleanse bodies before burial with water. Given the life-giving force of water in both the biological and spiritual sense, it should not be surprising, then that fountains offer so much joy. So much solace. So much contentment.


Which brings me to one of my favorite things to do in the city--find a nice fountain and sit. Sit and listen. Sit and watch. Sit and think. Sit and clear my mind. Sit and feel this force breathe new life to all passersby.

My favorite fountain is the Crown Fountain in Millennium Park. No matter how down I feel, all I have to do is walk down to this source of serenity and I am quickly reminded of the good things in life. A simple fountain with funky looking faces spitting water at each other is all it takes. It makes adults kids again and kids the masters of Quan.

Here, every emotion is met by drops of water pouring down from its source above. They wash away mistakes and mishaps. They cleanse sour grapes. They ease the mind before rushing over a discrete drain that lines the perimeter of the fountain's playground. Surely, these swirling drops make their way somehow back up to the source.

The world is a circle.


Popular posts from this blog

The Antisociality of Social Media (Part 1)...Who Are We? How Did We Get Here?

(Response forthcoming in part two) I'm bad with names. I can remember a face no problem. But names are automatically sent to an unlockable vault deep within the cortex of my brain. I don't know if it is my short term memory that is a problem or long term. I have forgotten names of people I have just met while they are finishing their "Hi, I'm so and so. Nice to meet you." You had me at Hi and lost me by "I'm so and so." Likewise, I also can't remember the names of people I grew up with. I dread going out and about in my hometown for fear that I will run into someone who is purportedly my BFF from 1986 and I just don't remember his or her name to save my life. I'm partial to the Elaine Benes idea that we should all wear name tags. (For those not familiar with Seinfeld, Google it.) Now, one might be inclined to suggest that I see a neurologist to have a thorough hippocampus evaluation. But I'm not so sure the problem is c...
Post a Comment
Read more

Overpopulaton of Punctuation Marks Threatens Message Extinction

[Because this bears repeating in such desperate times] Scientists report that a recent rise in the overuse of punctuation marks will ultimately lead to the demise of the common message. It is not known if the increasing trend of ending a sentence with multiple and in some cases, mixed, punctuation marks is the result of the natural evolution of messaging, or if human actions are speeding the process. What is clear, though, is that punctuation marks and messages are not taking their impending doom lying down. In a rare twist of bipartisanship, punctuation marks and messages came together to call for measures to halt the message crisis and return our civilization back to the days of making points in a clear, concise manner. Speaking for the punctuators, Exclamation point stated, "I'm a loner. You don't need two of me. The whole purpose of my existence is to accentuate a  point. I thought I was doing that just fine already." Mr. Question Mark had this to...
Read more

Planning for Parenthood Involves Maintaining Your Health. Or, Why I Support Planned Parenthood

Given that I don't have kids, the title of this post may seem a bit odd. What do I know about planning for parenthood, right? I don't have much room to talk, right? Sure, I might not be one of the lucky ones who enjoys the joys of little bundles of joy, but I'm going to ask you to cut me a little slack before you judge. After all, at the age of nineteen, when I first moved away from home to prepare for a career in Radiography, I did not know I would be childless many moons later.
Read more