New spectacles

Julia Sweeney was kind enough to give me the name of her optician where she got her godless spectacles. Here are mine: you can borrow them, if you like.

Want to try them on? Just for a minute, so that you may see how we see the world? Go on, they’re safety spectacles (see the extra protection on the sides?), you won’t suffer any damage to your eyesight. It’s alright, it won’t hurt a bit.

There may be a very slight feeling of dizziness as you look through them for the first time, but it will soon pass. New spectacles do that to some people.

Close your eyes and put them on. Are you wearing them? Snug? Good. Now, open your eyes and take a look around.

Whoa! The earth is spinning around the sun, and is itself spinning at a thousand miles an hour! Crikey! What’s to stop me whizzing off into space? How’s everything stuck to the ground? Why’s the earth revolving around the sun? Oh, yeah, that gravity thing…

Wow, look at that tree! All those strange shaped branches and leaves, how does the tree know how to make those? Ah, the tree’s DNA gives it a “recipe” for making leaves, it uses … I guess the grass has the same thing going on. Oh yeah, they get energy from carbon dioxide in the air and sunlight…

…from the sun! It’s shining so bright! [Don't look too closely at the sun, even with the godless safety specs on!] But what is it? Oh, I remember now, it’s a massive ball of superheated gasses, 93 million miles away… That’s so very far, but I can still feel the heat on my face. It must be amazingly hot there, to be able to feel the heat it generates here…

…but it’s so very far away… I feel so small, so very small, on this planet going around it… but I’m alive, and so is everyone else that I can see, and I can feel the heat on my face. It’s good to be alive. In fact, it’s great to be alive…!

WAIT! Don’t overdo it on your first time! Take off the glasses!

Is everything back to normal yet? No? Just rest for a moment, catch your breath. We can continue when you’re ready.

…

Take your time.

…

Right, everything OK? I would give you a hug, but we really don’t know each other that well. Maybe later.

So, how was it? What did you feel? Did you see something new? Did you get a new perspective on things? Maybe a bit of awe at the majesty of nature? Even just a little? You did? I’m so glad for you, really, I am.

In fact, why don’t you keep these spectacles? It’s a gift, from me, to you. I have another pair. No, it’s fine, honest.

Now you’re free to put them on whenever you want to take a slightly different look at the world. If you’re responsible and take the time to think about how to look after them properly, if you keep them clean and bright, they’ll last a lifetime, and you’ll get just that much enjoyment out of them.

What’s that? Oh, you’re most welcome.

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