Only Human

Human: a term to explain our biological existence. A term that refers to who we think we are, a name that signifies our bodies. Our biology, genetic similarities in DNA, thought, behaviour and error. We use the expression “only human” to explain away our mistakes using our DNA to lessen the impact of that mistake. This expression doesn’t lessen our mistakes, but it reinforces the myth that our DNA makes us anything less than extraordinary.

At the dawn of time which began the universe, some say the divine birthed matter and light into existence. Those particles coming together to form sparks of light in the vast emptiness. The starlight then exploding across the universe sending particles careening through time and space. These particles danced across the early universe, coming together and ripping apart time and time again.

From this cosmic dance the planets took form, and the water, land and sky shone as new life emerged. From this new life it is believed that the divine allowed us to evolve into higher beings to crown ourselves the kings and queens of this rock.

From those early beginnings we formed language. which gave birth to poetry, music and math. We created works of art and music to move the human heart and the eternal spirit. We evolved both our understanding of ourselves and each other, and as we evolved, so did our language. Expanding and changing into beautiful variations of communication. From those early words we formed laws, memories and recorded our history.

From the first steps out of Africa to where we built our first cities in Mesopotamia, we expanded who we were and the understanding of what we stood for.

Through toil we learned to debate, from those debates we evolved laws. Those laws gave birth to theology and justice. From those we formed independence and faced the loss of that independence. We evolved to create many advancements while we oversaw atrocities. We taught each other and learned from each other. We fought and died to take away freedoms and then fought again to free each other.

We have struggled, and some have died to evolve what we stand for and what we should stand for. Through all our toils and troubles we have found common ground, lost it again and fought back to find it.

Our history, while filled with blood and cruelty, has also given birth to passion, creativity, expression, identity, love and even beauty as we struggled to right ourselves.

In turn we have won and we have lost, we have come so far from where we were, and yet we still have miles to go. To understand who we are and what we want to stand for is a never-ending evolution of self and society.

As humans, we seek exploration not only of the infinite expanse of spaces that surround us and hang above us but within us. We seek to explore inwards to the core of who we are individually and collectively. To delve deep within the human spirit and ask questions of not only ourselves but each other to spark evolution within our species.

Our path is one of both inward introspection but also outward expression. The dual existence of evolution, fueled by passion and tempered with compassion, we grow. We seek to be better, to know ourselves and each other to find equilibrium within society.

From all of our struggles and from all the pain we have caused ourselves and others, we try to improve. To grow our understanding of all that we do not understand. The darkest periods of human history have birthed some of the strongest and bravest hearts known to humankind.

Their struggle, their sacrifices gave birth to the freedoms and comforts we now enjoy. Humanity can be extraordinary. History has shown not only our horrors, but also our humanity.

Our human unity, a spark in the darkness lighting the candle of hope. The resilience of the human spirit is a wonder to behold. Through our history and the struggles we faced, from solidarity in chains and bringing freedom to the oppressed; prayer circles with one faith protecting the other to feeding the homeless and healing the sick, we can be noble.

Within us is the potential beyond anything we have currently imagined for ourselves. The beauty of the human spirit is boundless; in that, and our hearts, we must believe. We must believe in each other and the nobility hidden throughout our history. That nobility, that history of struggle that has taken us through the eons from nothingness to here. This struggle should never be marginalized, and we should never lessen its importance. The last few thousand years of our evolution and history deserve more honor and reverence than we give it.

Our DNA is passed down by our ancestors, beyond everything else, our genetics are the collective echo of our forebearers. Their struggles and memories contained with our DNA should be honoured. That echo propelling us forward towards tomorrow.

We are more than just human, we are the collective evolution of a species, thousands of years of history and struggle reside in our veins. Our DNA is a testament to that history, that struggle. May we honour that struggle by rising above the mistakes of our past, creating a legacy, an echo that carries them and us into Eternity, united in our humanity.

“You either create a world for everyone or else you will end up in a world fit for no one.”

John Ames Birch