Interlude 18: Deities – Jack

I have developed a mild interest in the concept of deities (singular or plural).  Especially since I have allegedly been living among them.  I was always a big picture kind of a guy – the Universe, Space, Time, and so forth.  Got it from Mr. McEvey, I think, a valuable legacy.  So, I was asking around, talking it up among my new friends.

Thutmosis and I were strolling in the Park (Jurassic).  As it turned out, one was safe if one stayed on the sidewalks.  That was the rule.  Making conversation, I asked, “T, here we are, living among, well . . . those whom you previously considered . . . deities.  What do you think about that now?”

“They made war on each other.  An event we had the privilege to witness. Many of the participants were killed, and gods cannot die.”  T. made a good point.

 “It must be a very big deal for an immortal, a being who’s maybe a billion years old, to be ah . . . rendered inanimate.”

“Killed?  The loss is of inestimable value.  My species has revered the First-Born for many millennia and will continue to do so, though I have witnessed their limitations and their fears.”

“But will you, er, keep on revering them?” I asked.

“They offer eternal life, a gift worthy of high reverence.”

On another occasion, I had a chance to discuss this matter with my Tan-teen friend, Sha’ush.  He was a regular, popping over and hanging out almost every day.  We played games – 3-D chess, and dined on the patio, and occasionally watched the big screen – features about various species and events.  But the selected scenes from Earth’s geologic history were beyond fascinating – ice ages and such.

I asked Sha’ush, “Does your species have an organized religion?”

“Yes, religious beliefs have tended to evolve as my species evolved.  Arising from a belief in the Sacred Trinity.”

“The Sacred Trinity?” I asked.

“Yes, the Source of All has three components; The Initiator, The Sustainer, and the Bestower of Life.”  I suspected there may have been translation problems with his answer.  But I let it go.

I asked, “Do your people still believe?”

“Many beliefs have been replaced with knowledge.  When the Great Convergence took place, so too did the Three become One.  But many traditions remained, for instance, sustained vigilance.  We maintain alert observance and learn.  And our awareness is highly valued, as evidenced by the actions taken upon our detection of the First Breaches.  In time we shall unravel more unknowns.  An ability that you have also demonstrated, Master Jack.”  

It was a very complimentary statement.  I place Sha’ush in the “kind-of” category.  He “kind of” believed in something but sought to learn more.

Ka-chi-chi-chi-chi had a different viewpoint.  His species venerated life and the great force that propelled it.  And it was manifest in their society – their science was primarily organic – they built with living tissue.  He would drop by with Emmesheh, never alone.  I sensed that his separation from the hive, the group mind, was very difficult for him.  But alleviated somewhat by the presence of Emmesheh.  She was a very affecting individual. 

After some discussion on the subject, Ka (as I had come to call him) emitted a communication burst:

“The Force of Life emanates from the Progenitor.  But as it gives, so it takes.   Struggle is interposed; obstacles must be overcome.  Survival is the reward.  Born to a dying planet, our accession was severe, but transcend we did.  Bestowed we were with the felicity of Oneness.  Time flowed, change transpired, and hardship re-imposed.  Such is the Path of Life.”

From what he said, I gathered that Ka revered the Force of Life itself.  Admirable and worthy of reverence, in my estimation.

I was barbequing a couple of sausages outside.  T. and I did not have the luxury of a cook.  But how great it was to have a patio overlooking the Park.  It was a typical fiery sunset – streaks of yellow, orange, and purple.  A herd of Triceratops had migrated fairly close.  Their bellows and snorts were quite prominent.  Sha’ush was lounging on one of his special tri-chairs.  Thutmosis was seated at the table, every-so-often spearing a wriggling delicacy on his plate.  It was dinner time.  Emmesheh entered, and grace defined her as she drifted to the balustrade, where she paused for a moment to survey her territory. 

I asked her straight out.  Maybe that’s why she liked me.  I was respectful, but the atmosphere was loose, and we were free to be ourselves, “Emmesheh, do the Ang worship a higher power?”  

Emmesheh:

“Beginnings and endings have always mystified,

What came before, what comes thereafter,

The nature of Time follows a circular path.

We have chosen the ever-life to the after-life,

And in the doing, the why’s of what is, we shall learn.”

It was a typical Emmesheh-type statement.  Difficult to understand.  I have to assume that the Ang have come pretty far in the defining of “what is.”  The laws of our Universe, and now they were learning the laws of the Aether.  And also, about the other inhabitants there too.  Where do deities fit into this big picture?  I do not know.  But, if I ever get back to Earth, I think I may step inside a church once in a while, maybe on Christmas.  There’s so much to consider.