Why Is There Air?

For those who are old enough to remember the early days of Bill Cosby's comedy albums (those things on LP records), there was a bit entitled "Why Is There Air?"  To me, this is a shorthand way of saying what most people think about, at least occasionally; who are we, where did we come from, why are we here, where will our identity go after life leaves this carbon construct called a body? Many people answer these questions by subscribing to faith systems that purport to give answers for all time, regardless of contrary evidence provided by hard science. Others choose to believe that everything is random, which to me is just as unlikely to be completely true as the faith-based answers. Each may have some part of the truth but neither has all of the answers. Isn't it ironic that this need to know has driven humans to both the best and the worst behaviors?

Of course, my love of genealogy research is a part of the search for "why."  It is interesting to look back over my ancestors, their appearance, their physical and mental health, their intelligence and talents, their preferences, and realize that at least some of these qualities came to me genetically while others came from transferral of knowledge and behaviors that carries through generations. 

For instance, I bear a remarkable resemblance to my maternal Great-Great Grandmother. DNA research tells us that I received my mtDNA directly from her, unchanged, and she received it from her direct maternal line as well. I always wondered why I looked SO much like my mother's sister and her daughters. The answer is that we all have exactly the same mtDNA. Sadly, my sister and I had only sons as did our cousins so our direct mtDNA line is extinct. But, there were other daughters of this Great-Great Grandmother who may have had daughters who would pass on the mtDNA. I am researching these lines to perhaps find these cousins who share my mtDNA. (My son's daughter carries her own mother's mtDNA line).

So, why is there air? I guess at this point in my search for truth I would have to say I believe that there is a Great Architect of the Universe, call it God, or Allah, or what you will. It is all the same. The sciences of chemistry, physics, geology, archaeology, and mathematics, among others, have helped us to realize that our universe and our planet are designed with the absolutely right components for carbon-based life to evolve and be sustained. This is no small thing and could not have happened randomly. I'm sure the Creator had a terrific time with this design and construction project! Whether C. is still looking over our shoulder and guiding the happenings on Earth is far more difficult to know or imagine. Only in death will we know for sure...maybe.