Predictability is perhaps our greatest clue to the reality of a principled existence that we poor, struggling, mistaken, mortals have, of the reality of God. The place where the atheists are missing the mark is in the predictability of everything.

Predictability proves that everything is governed and controlled by unchangeable law. Law and order could not have accidentally crawled out from a bed of slime. It also tells us that nothing happens with no reason. Every effect, is caused by law. We mortals are the only life which actually has a choice to be unpredictable. We are also the only life form on earth which has the ability to understand the lawful nature of universal truths, and thus to become predictable in our own right. The evidence of things unseen, is our blessed birthright.

In earlier days people witnessed an unbelievable, fearful, power in nature: volcanoes, lightning and thunder, which gave them cause for fear. It instilled in them a fear of nature, and a tendency to try to appease such a fearful power. They created in their minds a God who dealt their superstitious fears. They were in fear of the wrath of God. They had little idea of how anything worked or behaved. They believed almost anything, because they didn’t understand it was a controlled system. They thought of a God with the temperament of a king, or other authoritative, merciless, figure they may have encountered. Their lives and misfortunes doubtlessly gave them ample reason for their beliefs.

Whatever society has been, it has always been up to date and modern, although years past modern means little today. Today we are a more enlightened society, far advanced beyond the days of a wrathful God of generations ago. We have conquered many a challenging situation with our newly found understanding of the nature of the world. Our understanding of the world today, is based more than anything, on the proof of its predictability. The feats of modern man were unbelievable even just a few years ago. Transportation to the moon, to say nothing of the modern automobile, airplane or modern city facilities. This predictability has ushered in a new realization of the true reality of creation.

We have learned to reap the benefits of our newfound abilities more than man has ever known before. Our modern discoveries have gone somewhat to our heads, as we have become less and less dependent on faith in anything except our own newfound understanding of mind and muscle. One would think that as we come to realize how everything is controlled in an orderly, cooperative fashion, it would increase our realization that there must be a controlling force of some kind. I suppose that we are still in the early stages of wonderment at our own accomplishments to hand out credit to any one, or anything else.

I hope and expect, that our better natures will save us from the immediate urges of the opportunists among us. It seems that many of our politicians are more interested in maintaining control for their party, and themselves, than in saving our system of democracy and the ultimate realization of what an enlightened life may mean for humanity. We have been led to where we are, by the bootstraps of people who were more caring about conserving our democracy, and freedom from kings, than in their own careers. In a democracy that is the way it must be, if it is to last.

My faith in the future is not in any politician, or party. But in my faith that the good Lord has His own methods, and will continue to guide us in an ever growing realization of the destiny of mankind. The world has not come this far without purpose. It has not been easy, or automatic, but it has been sure and steady, making progress over the years, and that push of purpose will never go to waste. Today’s discoveries, are tomorrows stepping stones. It has ever been thus. It shall ever be so. May God bless America.

Richard Westlund is a Collins resident. Send comments to editorial@observertoday.com