Yearning

It would be at least a few centuries before the light of our planet’s sun would reach the earth, and even longer before the humans would develop the technology to communicate with it let alone reach it. By then, I’m sure we would have evolved into something more spectacular, more complex so that when the humans do arrive, we would not instantaneously be recognized as forms of life. But the human race fascinates me so. Their fragility makes them even more endearing. They are but a few millimeters from the primordial swamp that they emerged from, and have already achieved so much greatness and destruction in just a few millennia.

My goodness! Millennia! I have been on earth for so many centuries now and the lifespan of these human beings, they call themselves Homo sapiens, is still short enough that the idea of an entire millennium cannot be fathomed. They can calculate the depths of the outer reaches of space but cannot feel it the way my people can. They have managed to see things beyond the limited capabilities that their primitive eyes have allowed them, yet there is no way to translate just how small, small can be.

Though the most fascinating aspect of these “lowly” creatures is what their wonderful minds are capable of. A human’s imagination easily dwarfs the vast expanse of the known universe with the ability to create the most beautiful art, everything from the simple to the intricate. Their greatest attribute, for better or for worst, is also their largest downfall. For it is this very same imagination that has proven to be the most destructive force on this frail, green and blue planet.

To think that humans have humble beginnings as hunter gathering tribes, developing the concept of love to keep their species thriving in a time of the planet’s violent beginnings is astounding. Just as important was their concept of fear to teach their young to stay away from perilous dangers. It would only be a matter of time before their hunger to feed individual egos would overwhelm the needs of their entire society, and thus was born this delusion of power.

Man’s hunger for power blinded him from the needs of their fellow homo sapiens. It started with simple possessions and escalated to small territories then to larger ones then to something as useless as currency. At one point, these creatures believed they fought for their enemies very souls. Yes, it seems that mankind has been able to take two proverbial steps forward and three giant leaps back. But observing them is far from a fool’s errand, for there is such great potential, such great hope, and such beautiful dreams, that it is not farfetched to think that they may evolve into beings such as us one day.

Over history, to observe humanity as a whole would be to see their triumphs over nature and struggles with themselves resulting in the entanglement over the very thing that should propel them forward. But to observe a handful individuals is to witness just how much greater the Homo sapiens are capable of. For what are these nations other than a declaration of their territorial tendencies? It no more separates one human from another as does the color of their skin or the name of their god, but if this species survives their own undoing than our kind may have found a kindred spirit, a distant (quite literally) relative.

I know I’ve been raving on and on about these primitive creatures but it’s rather amazing to think that we were at one point as petty and naïve as they are. They are currently at a tipping point. They have ravaged their planet’s resources and wreaked such havoc on their ecology that limits their ability to live in it. Every intelligent species has reached this point where the consequences of war and greed loom over the horizon threatening to wipe out intelligent life. And if you remember: our kind chose to stave off and found a way to live together in harmony while the creatures on our third moon failed to heed our warnings resulting in the utter desolation of said moon. But there is one thing that these humans are abundant in more than any other creature that I have studied in the known universe: hope.

Despite all their trifle bickering and how close it has brought them to the edge of Armageddon, there are so many of them that hold onto hope for the future. Hope is something unique to the human condition. The only way to describe the concept of hope is to call it a delusion, but it is far from that. It is a driving force that spurs them on to greater heights and will, in my expert opinion, propel them towards great things.

They strive to be a great people, but all too often let their own egos get the best of them. Perhaps it is this potential to become more like us that fascinates me so. It will be just a while longer before I can go back home. For every war and crime and sin against humanity that humanity commits, there is the laughter and joy and camaraderie and solidarity and yes, hope. They wish so much to be better than themselves, but it is their basest of primitive instincts of a few that hold all of them back. I am confident that they can overcome the obstacles that they have laid for themselves.

Until I can be completely sure that the humans will not destroy themselves under the weight of their imagination, I cannot be sure if this will be the perfect place to migrate to. Perhaps it is because I have spent many human generations on this planet, and maybe it is because I have grown fond of these “inferior” creatures, but a part of me hopes to see them succeed. And until I do, I shall remain here, constantly yearning to be back with my loved ones back home.