GIFTS OF THE COSMOS
The Creation, the world, the Universe, all there is, especially our home, Earth, are all gifts – gifts given freely to us and, as well, to all other creatures with whom we share existence. For 13.75 billion years the creativity inherent in the Universe has brought into being a vast number of living and non-living entities each of which has had its own mode of existence and ultimate fate. Some have lived forever, like the few small stars that were created near the beginning of the Universe. However, most of our fellow companions in this enormous Universe have undergone considerable changes in form in these almost 14 billion years like these colliding galaxies above (a computer simulation). These creative and distinct forms have interacted with each other in myriad ways. Both the forms themselves and their relationships constitute the gifts so freely given.
In this course we honor the gifts starting withthe ultimate gift, the birth of the Universe itself, to the formation of Earth. In the following two courses, Gifts of Earth and Gifts of Human, we continue this study. It is natural for us, as humans, to seek the gifts that lead to our gifts. But what are the gifts of the human? What is our greatest gift that we have received from the Universe/Earth process? And what is the greatest gift that we can give back? The answer in this program is that this greatest gift is gratitude. Gratitude is the foundation of all our religious/spiritual traditions. Gratitude is simultaneously humbling and empowering, providing a context in which we can find meaning and direction in our lives.
Looking back to galactic and stellar evolution to find how the gift of gratitude emerged will require an expansion of our conception of the past. Similarly as we trace its emergence through the intimacy of Earth's evolution, we will need to see with new eyes, hear with new ears. Thus we will discover ourselves anew - earthlings who have been blessed with an enormous capacity to be grateful, grateful for the gifts of creation, for we not only embody those gifts; we are those gifts.
We will end this course and the following two on the Gifts with a recognition of how involved we humans are with all creation. We are family with all creation. Our direct ancestors stretch back into deep time to the very birth of the Universe. This geneaology establishes our identity.
Extra Resources for Course (in order of priority)
Brian Swimme and Thomas Berry, The Universe Story (Cosmic chapters), HarperSanFrancisco, 1994.
Brian Swimme, Mary Evelyn Tucker, The Journey of the Universe (Book and DVD available at Journey of the Universe website.)
Brian Swimme, Canticle to the Cosmos (Video series available from the Center for the Story of the Universe. Call Sue Espinosa @ 800-273-3720.)
Miriam MacGillis, Exploring a New Cosmology (To purchase DVD send check for $35 made payable to Genesis Farm to: c/o Lisa Kelly; Genesis Farm Resource Center; 41A Silver Lake Road; Blairstown, NJ 07825. Questions: email resourcecenter AT genesisfarm.org)
Jennifer Morgan, Born with a Bang: The Universe Tells Our Cosmic Story, Dawn Publications, 2002.
Betty-Ann Kissilove, Great Ball of Fire! A Poetic Telling of the Universe Story, self-published, 2010.
If you are interested in developing this material for children, email Jean, jeanledwards AT gmail.com
For (a lot) more resources check out the Genesis Farm Earth Literacy Resource list.