Monday, November 13, 2006

0.135% of potential. How much is that? That is comparable to 1 penny out of a dollar or 35 seconds out of an entire 24 hour time period. It's less than the smallest sip you can take from full cup of coffee or juice and is less the one-eighth width of the entire paper-thin apple peel on an apple. Bottom line: it's a very small amount.

Of the calculated total mass of our known solar system, 0.135% (1/10 of 1 percent) is comprised of the nine original planets. What constitutes the majority of our solar system's mass? The Sun comprises 99.86%, while the remaining morsels of mass are made up of comets, satellites, asteroids and dust and gases. And of that 0.135%, our planet Earth barely comprises 3%. And on that mere .00004% of mass in our solar system, we find ourselves. On this and out of this small grain of mass in our solar system has emerged astounding music, awe-inspiring art, noble efforts and grand dreams.

So the next time you start to doubt your own abilities and efforts, know that you are not alone. There's an entire population of Whos sitting on this little dust ball in the great solar system probably wondering the same thing. And even with all this doubt occurring and so little physical room for potential, we still collectively have blown the curve on that potential.

It makes you marvel at the Cosmic Gardener who planted this minute seed of humanity on this infinitesimal plot of soil... in hopes of a fruitful yield. Granted, there's still a long way for us to go, but considering the terrain, odds and possibilities, we're not doing half bad.