Saturday, 30 May 2009

  • Why Physics Brings Me Joy

    Lets start with this.

    The Long:

    No one has even dared to count stars one by one but it can be estimated that there are between 1022 to 1024 stars in the universe.

    Now remember that our Sun is a yellow dwarf - meaning it is a medium-sized star in comparison to others, but still holds about 98% of our solar system's mass. That's a lot considering that there are 14... yes 14 planets in our solar system (8-9 that actually count... but if you count Pluto as a planet then there are 5 others you have to count as planets as well... ANYWAYS).

    Within our galaxy (the Milky Way) there are roughly 400,000,000,000 other stars. It takes the light from the sun about 8 minutes to get to earth, while the nearest star within the Milky Way is about 150,000,000 km away. Even though it’s close, it still takes 4 years for its light to be visible to us. So doesn’t it baffle you that the farthest visible star relative to Earth is about 25,000,000,000 ly away? That's 236,518,261, 814,520 km from where you sit.

    Those are some pretty intense numbers to fathom so look at it like this... whether you believe evolution is responsible for our being today, or if we were created as is, you have to admit our thumbs are pretty awesome. Could you imagine how rough it would be if you were to lose your thumb right now? We hardly think of these things in our daily lives but when it all comes down to it, it’s humbling to realize how small we are in such a finely tuned place.

    That’s why I love physics. Isaiah 24:14 says “they raise their voice, they shout for joy; from the west as they proclaim the Lord’s majesty.” So to me, these things scream how majestic... glorious...how BIG our God is. It brings me so much joy to know that there is this God who made every inch of our universe but for some reason... would rather take care of me.

    My boyfriend got me an astronomy encyclopedia for my birthday. I always show it off every time I can...and everyone thinks I’m nuts, but reading it cover to cover just makes me fall more in love with my God. There have been so many times I’ve been reading it and I just had to stop and worship. Psalm 19:1 says “the heavens declare the glory of God...” so if they’re just stating how beautiful the Lord is, can you even imagine how much more awesome He is face-to-face? I’m honestly so amazed, knowing God’s fingerprints are all over the place... it’s a constant reminder that we are so loved by a maker who is SO big that ...He’s got the whole world in His hands.

    The short:

    There are so many reasons to find joy today. Honestly, if you’re having trouble finding rationale for happiness, read those numbers again. Take comfort in the fact that God has an amazing plan for YOU! Be excited that He has weaved together all these details of your everyday, even if they don't look so great at the time, know that in the end He has something so great for you. If He can make this entire universe, then how much more can He handle your life?

    What brings you joy?

Related Posts

Comments (20)

  • mrcolorful@xanga

    I like physics because it explains the workings of the world or at least most of it.
  • pillowpixies@xanga

    I think just about everything (excluding things that warrant sadness) gives me joy. One thing that really gives me joy is nature, I seriously love it. 
  • nyclegodesi24@xanga

    I liked this post. Yes, physics makes me happy. It's so elegant, much more elegant than chemistry or biology (*shudder*) to me. Its simplicity is poetry. Yet, a christian in any of these fields can marvel at the works of God's hands. This sort of post should be one in a series, of how we can be joyful in God through many different experiences or studies.


    I'd only amend your point by saying "God would also take care of me" instead of "God would rather take care of me".

    I experience God in my poly sci classes. I realize that the ideas of government and justice borrow from centuries old traditions of ideas, deeply rooted in the metaphysical reality of free-will and equality; it reaffirms my faith in a God who created everyone equally. 


    "'Two things fill the mind with ever new and increasing wonder and awe — the starry hosts above and the moral law within" - Kant
  • LoBornlyte@xanga

    That picture of the Andromeda galaxy (2,500,000 light years from Earth) is art more beautiful than anything man has ever produced.


    When the atheist denies God, I lament that a human being has deliberately chosen to stunt his intellect and cut himself off from fathomless beauty.
  • WasaiWarrior@xanga

    @nyclegodesi24@xanga - Biology is also incredibly intricate and poetic... I think even more so because of its ability to adapt to chaos and "noise", but I'm a little biased.  =P
  • scrambledmegzntoast@hardestlevel

    there are between 1022 to 1024 stars in the universe.

    It seems like someone could count and get an actual number given that range. Can we just settle on 1023?
  • LadyLibellule@xanga

    "No one has even dared to count stars one by one but it can be estimated
    that there are between 1022 to 1024 stars in the universe."

    Missing a few zeros, aren't we?
  • nyclegodesi24@xanga

    @LadyLibellule@xanga - haha how did I miss that? I think I started reading the entry from the second paragraph.
  • spanz@xanga

    Photography & knowing someone cares for me. 
  • nickeysblog@xanga

    Thanks for writing that I am going through a really tough time right now.  That really spoke to me.  Thank you. God Bless You.
  • chilled_roses8523@xanga

    Quantum Physics is awesome

    Einstein heavily believed all we needed to figure out God was to put some numbers an equations together, "God does not role dice"

    But the newcoming physicists who started the whole quantum physics phenomenon found the world to be unpredictable, disordered and very spontaneous.

    Which is what "God", "Yahweh", or the eternal being of this universe is.

    Unpredictable.

    This is the only way the concept of an 'eternal being' makes sense.
  • nyclegodesi24@xanga

    @WasaiWarrior@xanga - heh well i suppose biology can be appreciated for its aesthetic qualities by biologists. =]
  • droftreeology@xanga

    i love it when you learn about science and it makes you think about God! that's the best.
  • The_Angry_Troll@xanga

    Interesting little thing I noticed. In the first paragraph there are just over a thousand stars in the UNIVERSE. By the third paragraph there are 400 BILLION stars in our galaxy alone!


    Um...you do realize that our galaxy is only a part of the Universe, right? A very SMALL part, so I'm pretty certain said galaxy cannot possibly contain MORE stars than the MUCH larger Universe it is contained within. It's like trying to empty the Pacific Ocean into your bathtub, only on a scale times infinity.


    Anyway, just wanted to point that out, that's all. Now back to your regularly scheduled chanting.

  • Andy@xanga

    dude, studying metabolic biochemistry makes you SERIOUSLY wonder how freakin ridiculous God is. i really wonder how people in my class can just soak this in but not think of how...perfect and complete it is. something so perfect that it seriously does need a divine touch from the Father breathing life into us. :)
  • TKNewhook@xanga

    I think she meant 10^22 - 10^24 (10 to the twenty-something POWER). That's a bigger number than any of us could comprehend.
  • tau_1@xanga

    amen and amen you said it all....


    By wisdom hath founded the earth;


      By understanding hath He established the  heavens,


        By His knowledge the depths are broken up,


          and the clouds drop down the dew.


                                   Proverbs 3:19,20
  • Nous_Apeiron@xanga

    I totally dig physics. 

    @TKNewhook@xanga - The best estimates we currently have indicate that the number of stars in our universe is significantly higher than even your incomprehensibly large number.

    Cool, huh?
  • Faerie_In_Combat_Boots@xanga

    Astrophysics and Quantum physics make me realize that we're definitely not alone in this universe.
  • Advance_Placement@xanga

    quantum physics proves evidence of parallel universes

  • Choose Identity

  • Give eProps (?)

  • New! You can now edit your comments for 15 minutes after submitting.