A Miracle that Lives

Sherlock Holmes said: “I am a brain, Watson! The rest of me is simply an appendage.” He may have said it metaphorically but after a century, we can see the practical manifestation. Stephen Hawking, the celebrated physicist and author of the famous book A Brief History of Time, has been paralyzed almost completely by a disease but yet he has made discoveries which most of us can only dream of. A cursory look at his life would convince you that he is nothing short of a miracle. But I am thinking of a more obvious yet unnoticed miracle that is happening around us.

Stephen Hawking has worked on Black Holes and Quantum Physics. In layman’s terms, quantum physics says that nothing can be predicted absolutely. For example, if you are crossing a road, it is not 100% that you would reach the other side and instead there is a chance that you would turn up on Mars! And that every possible outcome of an event happens, albeit in a different universe. For example, if a man shot at another man, either he hits or misses. Now according to quantum physics, whatever happens in this universe, the alternative will happen in another universe. If the man is shot here, in another universe, he will be safe and if he is safe here, will be shot in another universe!

John Doe, after a hectic day, is finally in his bedroom. As soon as he sits on the sofa, he sees a scorpion and he kills it. What if he hasn’t seen it? He wondered with himself and the alternative gives him shivers. After a while he forgets about this and starts brushing his teeth. Finally, in his bed, he holds a glass and was about to pour some water when he notices something. Upon closer examination, he sees cyanide. What if he has drunk it? Relaxed, he finally is in his bed thinking about the events of his day.

The whole day starts coming back into his mind. He wakes up in the morning and after saving himself from being electrocuted in the bath-tub, he dresses up. After breakfast, he drives to work. On the way to office, he is saved by a fraction of a second from being crushed by a truck. At his workplace, he nearly burns himself with high concentration acid. Somehow, it is 5PM and he is driving back to his home. In the street, there is an angry mob lighting everything on fire. But again, John is safe. He makes tea for himself. Having severe headache, he put 2 aspirins in his tea and after a while the milk and the tablets react with each other making clots in the cup. He is thankful he hasn’t drunk it. After watching some TV, he decides to go to bed.

According to quantum physics, every event with John could have produced the alternative results. From morning to evening and night and then again to morning, humans are struggling to survive. They fight for their existence with the forces of nature and it is nothing short of a miracle that human race exists even after facing so many challenges. But there is a bigger miracle. And that miracle is that after surviving as such, humans do not value their lives. We never think what is the purpose of life? And by our attitude, we make little difference in whether we win or lose this fight. 

P.S. John Doe is used for someone whose true identity is unknown.