Memory's Purpose

a Poem by Tom Valovic
watercolor figures passing by candles on the water

I probably have known thousands of people in my life.
For the sake of argument let’s call it 7128 (It’s just a number!)
But imagine how many people the Mind of God knows.

Imagine those countless faces scattered across time and place
and the myriad details of each life seemingly so far beyond
measuring or remembrance. In the Mind of God each

act, thought, idea, and gesture, careless or crafted,
is noted, recorded, and preserved as if our often troubled
and ragtag lives were actually important in the scheme of things.

Some call this the Akashic Record derived from esoteric philosophy,
containing all human experience and the history of the cosmos.
a kind of “universal supercomputer” in the contemporary view.

But I am a minimalist. I would like to compare the Mind of God
to a friend who frequents outdoor cafés and loves to watch
humanity’s comings and goings and the sweet minutia of lives.

(Please do not think of this comparison as frivolous.)
When my friend sits at cafés and watches those milling about
there is kind attention lavished on those who pass by.

She is genuinely interested but knows that she cannot interfere
in any real way—only watch the passing parade of souls totally
oblivious to her interest, diligent actors in their passion plays.

Contributor

Tom Valovic

Tom Valovic is a writer, journalist, and tai chi practitioner of 22 years. He is the author of Digital Mythologies, which explores the relationship between spirituality and technology. He writes about a variety of topics including healthcare, politics, technology, spirituality, and the environment. He has written articles about the relationship of culture and technology for Annals of Earth, Wisdom Magazine, The Whole Earth Review, The Boston Globe, The San Francisco Examiner, Media Studies Journal, and many other publications. Tom has been a board member at Brookline Tai Chi in Massachusetts and is co-founder of the Emergence Project.

He always enjoys hearing from readers. Feel free to e-mail him at cloudhands5885@gmail.com.