Time

The Ancient Chinese, Babylonians, Mayans and Norse all believed in time as cyclical, where the same things happen repeatedly in a cycle. Modern men measure time linearly, believing that each event happens only once, some even going further to say that time is progressive, directed to a final goal.

I think that the idea of progressive linear time makes us a little egocentric. Whatever is happening to me at this time has eternal consequence. Some Christians believe that certain events precipitate other desirable events such as the return of Christ and find themselves proposing crazy ideas about Israel, for example.

Lately I feel comfortable with the idea of cyclical time. Difficult events just seem easier when I believe that things will return to normal and that the future of the world is not contingent on my response.

Solomon said there is nothing new under the sun.

I really think that some people have shorter cycles than others. Observing manic depressives only solidifies this idea. If I had to choose, I'd say that there are a variety of cycles in my life, sort of like Russian nesting dolls. There are the shorter cycles, such as my tendency to be depressed every six months. Then there are the longer ones, like the eventual boredom with jobs or hobbies. My sanity and logic definitely have elliptic orbits, nearing center every so often, only to find themselves hurled into space until the momentum slows enough for them to gravitate back.