I am a logical person. In order to believe anything I need proof- hard, empirical evidence. I'm a debater, you see, and we rely on evidence for everything. If it doesn't have a source it simply is not true. As such, this can cause many problems. When my mother demands I must do the dishes NOW... I ask her why now- why perhaps, not later? Is there any concrete proof that 'later' would cause a catastrophe or improve the work done? The outcome is the same, isn't it? My teachers also find this frustrating. Why do busywork? What is the purpose? Homework? Pshaw!
However, the most difficult idea I've ever had to rationalize is God. It sort of makes SENSE that we would have one- I mean, why would everyone go on about how awesome he was all the time unless there was one? But with all the catastrophes and cruelness in the world... it was (understandably) hard for me to believe in some big fellow above trying to guide my life. I didn't see any evidence of his existence. If I call his name, he doesn't show up in the clouds like "Yo Annette, what's up? I heard you were in need of assistance! How can I help?" Praying just feels like random chance. If praying succeeds; God heard me. If it doesn't... well I didn't do it hard enough, or God didn't think I needed help.
But then one day, I was thinking- a dangerous pastime. I began thinking about God and Jesus and all those wonderful things and where I fit in the world. I didn't understand how I would be going to hell because I believed in gay marriage, Harry Potter, and above all- evolution. This got me thinking- how could those with so much faith still believe- what with the overwhelming proof of evolution and all. I began thinking about the connections of animals and how they all evolved from eachother- and I arrived at a dead end. The Platypus.
The Platypus: 25% duck, 25% beaver, 25% snake, 25% alligator; 100% adorable!
In case you are not familiar with it, the Platypus is a cat-sized animal. It is brown and aquatic- the otter of Eastern Australia. The Platypus also, however, has a duck bill, a beaver tail, webbed feet, venomous spikes on its feet, and is one of the few mammals that actually lay EGGS. It is, quite simply, one of the oddest creatures you will ever come across. No matter what angle I twisted the platypus, I simply could not see how this bizzarre creature could have evolved on its own. No, I surmised, this organism HAD to have some sort of divine hand playing with its genetics and guiding it along on its path to platypus-dom. This has become my proof of God.
I imagine God one day looked at his roster (because as we all know, the big man is quite well organized). and was like "We need some really weird shit for Australia; ok let's see what we have. Pouched bear, pouched rabbit thing, terrifying snakes- I know what we need! A duck-billed-beaver-tailed-aquatic-egg-laying-mammal. And let's make it venomous; just for kicks."
However, my faith is built upon a foundation of sand. If one day (God forbid!) someone proves the evolution of the platypus... well, then I suppose I will have to re-evaulate my faith. But until then, whenever I see that silly little mammal, I'm reminded of God's power- and his wicked sense of humor.
- Annette Dipert
(If you have any more questions about platypi, feel free to e-mail me!
(In case you were interested in the above on a shirt, Snorg Tees has it for sale.)
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