Editing The Unfinished Dissertation (section)

==The Universe and Its Problems==

“As with the immediate world around us, the Universe is far from perfect. Like with any machine, something in the Universe occasionally breaks. It can be something simple, such as a slight, unexpected change in the path of an asteroid (although the dinosaurs would  hardly consider it “simple” or “minor.”) It could also be something a bit more complex, such as a transgression in the laws of space and time. Inanimate objects suddenly coming to life would likely be put under this category. While the simpler errors can run their course with relative impunity, the more complex issues require a bit more attention, lest such a crack grow into something which could rend everything apart. Fortunately, the Universe has measures to fix the more serious problems.

“Problems which require the very manipulation of space and time to repair.

“This is where you come in. Although the Universe cannot mend itself, those within it can. The chance creation of sentient beings gives the Universe a unique capacity to maintain itself. However, most such beings cannot fix the Universe, leaving the task to a scant few who can step beyond the boundaries of space and time. You are one of these special few.

“Your ability to control space and time comes from your strong sense of belonging in the Universe, a sentiment so powerful that it protects your own Personal Time from mingling with the Time of everyone else. With this Personal Time, you can take care of the Universe's more dire problems without interfering with the Time of everyone else. However, such protection from the normal Time Flow can only be sustained by not just the sentiment, but also with an Anchor. This is the physical manifestation of your belonging, an object that you hold dear. Without it, you would just drift off into the darkness beyond space and time, losing your grounding with the Universe. The Anchor becomes your means to mend the problem at hand through the sheer power of your belonging.

“If you are able to fix the problem, the Time Flow continues with you in it, as if nothing happened at all. Some people go through these trials – these Pauses – and then live the rest of their lives without any further involvement. Some forget. Some claim insanity. Some remember it as a dream. Many do not even make it out of a Pause alive. But a very successful few tend to slip into multiple Pauses, their effectiveness earning, or condemning, them another chance to fix the Universe. Perhaps you are one of those few as well... the Universe does seem to have an interesting sense of humor.”

Dr. Marilyn Wilkins
Email to Joseph Marks
March 12, 2012