LIM 1

¹The universe is a mountain. ²And the mountain stands strong, with its impressive peaks and cliffs. ³And the universe exists, today, really and truly and undeniably here, in the current moment. ⁴But the universe changes, the physical universe following its physical laws, as the rocks and dirt slip and tumble down the face of the mountain in time. ⁵And once the rocks fall, they can never slide back up, for the next moment always arrives, but it is never quite the same. ⁶In the beginning, the universe held all of its energy together in the least likely state. ⁷And this energy moves, according to some physical laws, drifting aimlessly from less likely to more likely states. ⁸Time, decay, the spread of entropy, it has many names, but it is not a law, it is only an observation, the natural flow of the energy of the universe. ⁹And time doesn’t change, but the universe does, its energy too vast, for as long as there is energy, there will be time, and there will be change. ¹⁰But the energy of the universe is a gift. ¹¹And it may be impossible to ever know where this energy came from or why it was ever held together in the least likely state. ¹²But the universe is here today, showing its face, and more importantly, you are here today. ¹³This is the truth that you must accept, because it is true. ¹⁴And as the rocks bump and crash into each other, some are sent flying and some shatter into dust, while others nest themselves comfortably on the slope, before inevitably tumbling down into the abyss below. ¹⁵But against the constant decay of time, there is life, an intricate and delicate part of the universe, a neat collection of complexity, arising from the chaos of the landslides. ¹⁶And life can never defeat death in the end, but it can stay strong against time, at least for today.