Stephen Hawking!

Darrell came in from work this morning and told me that famous Professor, Stephen Hawking had died; such sad news for his family and those who knew him. in today’s blog I just wanted to say a word or two about this great man. Professor Hawking was an innovator, who had very specific ideas about the Universe and our place within it. I actually read a lot of his work, especially in recent years as I became more interested in the theoretical science behind his research. I never really saw this man as disabled, despite him suffering from motor neuron disease. When he was diagnosed at the age of 21, he was given three years to live; Professor Hawking died aged 76; a shining example of just what we can all achieve in our life time. His brilliant mind will be missed by the scientific community, but also all of us who had listened to his words on television or read his thought provoking books. He was a truly inspirational man, whose legacy will live on for generations to come.

Stephen Hawking wasn’t a religious man, believing in the finality of life. Everything has a beginning and an end; we are all but a grain of sand on a beach; on the Earth for a brief period of time. I don’t entirely agree with him myself; I have my own views on religion and spirituality and wrestle with my own demons in this regard often. My partner is an atheist, who adamantly rejects the notion of a ‘God,’ or superior being, who made us in his or her likeness. I suppose I am an agnostic; I believe in something, I just don’t know what. I have had many experiences that point towards a belief in the afterlife, but I also have many unanswered questions about what happens when we die. I am always looking for evidence of what comes next. The only difference between me and a religious devotee is faith, something else I have always struggled with.

As I have aged, I have become more interested in my own temporality; just where do I fit into the grand scale of the Universe. As a human being, I am a product of the ‘Big Bang’ and since matter can not die, in theory, neither can I. This is where science and religion meet. I love having discussions with people about death and the cycle of life. It is one of those enduring mysteries that we are never likely to understand. Maybe, rather than constantly thinking about ‘what happens next,’ we should actually be living everyday to the fullest now, engaging with the existence we have, devoting our time to understanding our own destiny. I do have a strong belief in fate and maintain we are all here for our own unique reasons. Each of us has a purpose in life, just as Professor Hawking had his. Of course not all of us accept this to be true and there is no real proof that our future is set in stone, but it does instill in me, a sense of belonging; a raison d'être, that allows me to explore the more positive side of life.

Death is a product of living; consequently the two live side by side. As people we tend to hide the feelings and emotions that surround our own demise. Most of us exist, not even thinking about dying, until it comes rushing headlong into our lives. It is a scary prospect, ‘not existing,’ the concept is alien to us and rightly so. None of us can remember what came before our birth; it is highly unlikely we will remember what comes after our death; we just do not know! Professor Hawking was faced with his own transience everyday, not knowing how long he had left; however it didn’t distract him from his life’s work, dedicated to science and teaching; nor should it stop us from living our dreams and accomplishing our ambitions. Stephen showed us, that we can achieve everything we aspire too, despite the difficulties we may face. The challenges brought about by a life lived with motor neuron disease were no obstacle for him. He completed everything he set out to realise and made the World a far better place for it. All of us have the ability to change our circumstances, so get up, fulfill your resolve and make the World in which you live, a better place, just like Stephen Hawking did!

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