There is a beginning and an end. To everything.
Or is there?
Infinity certainly has neither.
From our everyday experiences, right here on this planet, we see that things are born, grow, change, and eventually die or cease to exist. All living things seem to follow this pattern.
And as far as the Universe goes, most every scientist agrees that The Big Bang theory started all of this. Somehow. Out of nowhere. Whether it will have an end (Big Crunch, Heat Death) is still debated. But even with this, it seems that there are still questions. About the beginning. About the end.
Could it be, or is it possible, that there are no beginnings and no ends? Don’t all endings lead into new beginnings?
Sure, the flower dies, but don’t its rotting roots and leaves and petals all go back into the soil, only to start over again as something new?
What about that toast on your breakfast plate. You will eat every bite with strawberry jam. It got there the moment you pulled it from the toaster. But before that it was a slice of soft bread. And before that it was wheat, and yeast, and riboflavin and other things. And once you take that last bite, it goes into your system, nourishing your body, and changing into something else.
Ultimately, it depends on how we define “beginning” and “end” and what we’re considering.
There are many views on this and things to consider.
One of those is Eternalism. This view suggests that time is a dimension similar to space. Just as we can move freely in space, all moments in time exist simultaneously. With this concept, there is no true beginning or end. Everything simply “is,” and it exists on a spectrum that is not linear, as our current time perspective suggests. Eternalism is often associated with certain interpretations of quantum mechanics and other scientific theories.
Regardless of science, some philosophical and religious traditions propose circular models of time. They say that events repeat in cycles. In such models, there may not be a clear beginning or end but rather a perpetual cycle of creation, destruction, and rebirth.
And then there is “infinity.” It is hard to explain, isn’t it? A concept that represents a boundless, endless extent. Something that goes on without beginning or end?
Infinity is found in many areas of human thought, from mathematics and science to philosophy and theology. It challenges our understanding of the nature of reality and existence.
So, maybe what goes up doesn’t necessarily have to be done.
Maybe there is no beginning or end. Perhaps there is only continuance.
And round and round we go.
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“Every new beginning comes from some other beginning’s end.” – Seneca
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“There will come a time when you believe everything is finished. That will be the beginning.” – Louis L’Amour
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“Every goodbye is the birth of a memory.” – Dutch Proverb
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Beginning. End. Or not.
