We’re always told that human potential is limitless. There’s nothing we can’t accomplish given enough time and resources! Science can solve every mystery, logic can deconstruct any scenario, and our ingenuity will conquer all.
Not to be Debbie Downer, but we need to lean against that prevailing wind in our worldview. While it’s true that we can do great things—mankind is neither omnipotent nor omniscient. Those words will never describe humanity, only divinity. With the exception of intense periods of revival and renewal, mankind’s progress tends to come at a high moral cost.
I hope these stories will help you think about our limited human potential. Remember, these come from some of the “best and brightest!”
Astronomers recently discovered a star inside our galaxy that poses an interesting problem. Researchers from Penn State nicknamed the star “Methuselah” because it is the oldest star ever discovered. By their estimates, the star is between 14 and 15 billion years old. This poses a problem, because these same scientists put the age of the universe at 13.8 billion years. Do you see the inconsistency? They are saying they hope future studies will adjust the age of the star down into a more consistent number. They seem unwilling to admit that obviously our methods of establishing age must not be quite as good as they’re reputed to be.
The other story comes from Spain. Spanish engineers were hoping to capitalize on optimism for a vital economic future in Spain. The inTempo Towers have been designed as the tallest residential building in all of Europe at 47 floors. They’ve had lots of setbacks and design adjustments. So only recently did the builders realize that they forgot to include an elevator that reaches past the 20th floor. Oops!
Mankind can do incredible things—both good and bad. We need to remember who the true source of all wisdom is!