Mar 22 2007
The Universe Within
I meet the most amazing people while on the road.
I am back in Omaha working with The Ref. I first met The Ref in 2004. Interesting how much shaving your head can change how you look.
The Ref has deep set green eyes set in very white sockets. He’s on the near-edge of 50 but looks younger. He’s medium in everything but thought.
The Ref is a great storyteller. He slings metaphors like nobody’s business. I love listening to his stories. We’re working together in his IT department and he’ll invariably launch into an explanation with, “It’s like this…”
Several weeks ago I told The Ref that I had a blog and mentioned how some have made money from blogs. He became interested as he keeps an eye open for opportunity. He’s especially open to opportunities that combine passion with revenue. This is how he became a referee – he enjoys sports and then became an officiator. He not only loves being a ref, he is making a few extra bucks.
Today a new blog was born unto the world as The Ref signed up for a hosting service, purchased his own domain and installed WordPress all within 30 minutes. Yes, Ms. Q did suggest he purchase his own domain and use WordPress as his blog platform.
The Ref and Ms. Q have had many conversations and ended up sharing some more personal stories. As with anyone, my life is much more than what I write about.
You could combine all the knowledge of everyone who has ever met me and not know who I am. This is true with anyone. I had shared with The Ref some of the complexities of my life and he says, “It’s like this…”
“Here’s what I tell someone when they need something to cheer them up. It’s not the answer to ‘why is this happening to me?’ but it may help to explain some things or at least help you to accept them.”
We’ve just finished dinner and the remnants of our sandwiches are pushed to the side. The Ref leans forward, his lips pursing a bit as if anticipating the words to come.
“Everything is complex,” he says. “Think of the universe. What if the universe had an end? How could you imagine that end?”
The Ref’s freckled arms curl out and inward as if lifting a large stone.
“Let’s say the universe is in this stone. What is outside of it? Space? Nothingness? How can we understand it?”
The Ref then rests both palms against his chest.
“Now think of people. That same universe is inside each of us.
How can any of us understand the universe each of us contains?
We can’t. It’s beyond us. It’s too complex.”
He’s right.
We can never understand the universe within each person and all the whys of their actions.
People will do things to us that are inexplicable. Sometimes we should stop trying to understand and accept that we will never know the answers.
I meet the most amazing people. All the time. Everywhere.
I’m looking forward to reading The Ref’s blog.
I’ve always liked staring at the stars, but the problem in Southern California, especially Los Angeles, is that there’s too much brightness from the City Lights to truly see all the stars!
Hi, Gary – have you read my Turn Off The Lights post? I share my feelings about how the city lights wash out the stars.
As always, MsQ…excellent post. I’d never really stopped and thought about how complex we all are as humans…but it’s true…sometimes I think we don’t even know OURSELVES, much less anyone else.
BryM: you are so right! Every so often I learn something about myself that is Freaky Shit! When I encounter such FS, I think, whooaaa, wake up-call she-who-thought-she-had-it goin’-on!
What I have tried to do is to be open to people. I read in a fortune cookie that we can learn from everyone. I believe this is true. If we approach life his way, I think we will be much more accepting and much less dismissive.
I noticed that you’ve changed your blog theme. I’m glad you’re continuing with your writing. Writing regularly can be very challenging.