Life is a Long Lineage

The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines Lineage as ‘The line of ancestors from whom a person is descended’. There is something magical and profound about the way life had its genesis on Earth — that initial spark that spawned the entire gamut of living entities we see today. No one quite knows how life began on Earth — although there are many hypotheses and fragments of information that direct us towards a probable answer. To a large extent, the search for that missing link remains shrouded in mystery, cajoling us to further intensify our efforts.

The great astronomer Carl Sagan once said “The cosmos is within us. We are made of star-stuff. We are a way for the universe to know itself.” It’s a baffling truth that the elements which comprise our bodies were once forged in the dying, smoldering breaths of massive stars — be it the iron in our blood, the sodium, and potassium which maintains the rhythm of our heartbeats, the calcium in our bones and so on. The fact we are alive, itself denotes that a group of intelligent cells create, reorganize, and assemble our frail physical existence. Thus the lineage of life, as we know it, originated from the kindling of stars. Is there a bigger picture lurking among all these seemingly intricate patterns? Is there more to us than meets the eye? Here is where I think a shift in perspective might steer us towards a more delicate and fruitful path — a path that asserts the presence of an indelible link among us.

A synonym for Lineage is ‘Family’. To chart a narrative of our evolution from our primitive counterparts to the beings we are today, we will have to plunge ourselves to the depths of human history — to a point in time when our consciousness began to blossom. Right from the stone age to the highly sophisticated lives we lead today, we as a species have had to cross several pivotal milestones. There has been a significant transformation, not only in the decorum with which we lead our lives but also in the degree of consciousness. How? Let’s take the example of a mountaineer. He starts his journey from the valley, with the vision of conquering the summit. As the climb progresses, his view of the surroundings keeps changing. As he ascends further and further, he is greeted by a more expansive and holistic perspective, which motivates him to complete his journey. The summit which beckons him from the heavens propels his journey forward — until finally he fulfills his vision, and is gifted with a mesmerizing sight, which only a handful of individuals would ever get to experience. Thus the precipice of our awareness is only limited by the dynamics of our environment. A more conducive environment instills different perspectives.?

The present moment is conceived from the labors of the past. Each stroke of an artist’s brush, every note a pianist plays and even some of the life-changing inventions have had to translate through innumerable moments in history to attain the state of refinement we see today. There is always a thriving essence in ourselves that coaxes us towards perfection. Our past forms the substratum of our present selves. The sum and substance of our lives can trace its roots back to the core of our experiences and even to the people who have existed before us. Just as a mason builds new layers on top of an existing structure, our lives are just a continuation of the lives of those entities who have charted their paths in this world. Then the real question becomes, what is the impetus which drives certain individuals to excel in life and create blueprints for others to follow? What directs them to be the change-makers who strengthen the legacy they pass on to others? I believe it’s their immaculate vision and unbridled potential which reinforces their ideas and values.?

Every tree starts as a small seed, brimming with immense potential. When provided with proper nourishment, water, and sunlight, the seed has a chance to invoke its quiescent potential and burst out with life and grandeur. A myriad of possibilities lies latent in the seed until a conducive environment liberates it to fulfill its destiny. Thus the lineage of a tree can be traced back to its dormant seed — swimming in the vastness of possibilities. When we tap this reservoir of possibilities to its fullest extent, a paradigm shift manifests in the destinies of other individuals as well — especially in those who follow the same probable paths. History is shimmering with innumerable examples which validate this fact. When Thomas Alva Edison invented the incandescent bulb, when Alexander Graham Bell explored the idea of the telephone, or even when Edward Jenner discovered a miracle cure for Smallpox, they directly or indirectly influenced the lives of billions of people at the time, and continue to do so even today. The ripples of ideas and life-changing events unleashed in the past traverse the vast ocean of time to create effects even in the present — and quite possibly in the future as well. The potential of a ripple to generate change is ever so distinct and depends entirely on the core idea or intention. The idea or thought could even be as simple as helping a friend in distress or feeding the poor.

Hence, we are all creators of ‘Tomorrow Land’ — a realm in the not-so-distant future, which is pregnant with all kinds of possibilities. It’s a place which we can proudly call ‘Home’. Whether it’s a cell replicating to foster growth, a scientist grappling with a mind-boggling equation, or even an individual who is doing something as simple as comforting a friend, they weave the delicate fabric of life anonymously. And that is when legacies are created, lives are salved and destinies are forever changed. Even though we are yet to pinpoint the exact nature in which life originated on Earth, one assertive fact is that life is a journey from the past to the present — inexorably flowing towards the future. As Shannon L. Alder wrote in her poem, 'The Voyager':

"For I am in the moon, the wind and the whale’s evening song,

I am the sailor of eternity whose voyage is not gone"

The voyage of life may hold many surprises, sufferings, and even difficulties in-store, but each moment is a gift that we can utilize to the fullest extent. And when we do exactly that, we create a dazzling legacy and lineage for others to follow. We are the beacons and waypoints for the coming generations of imaginators, explorers, and creative cells. The blueprints we leave behind ensure that those who follow in our wake can cheerfully complete their journeys — and quite possibly be a wellspring of goodness for others. We are all eternal beings who live on in the hearts of our descendants and forthcoming generations. A wise man once told me “It’s in the pursuit of excellence that we discover our destiny, neatly wrapped and tucked into our consciousness”. All we have to do is unwrap it; This might take a while but it’s an endeavor worth every ounce of our effort.

Wishing you a happy time for yourself and all those around you. May you be an inspiration for others.