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‘Science and spiritual life parallels.’
By William Van Zyl (2020)
True North
My bones and muscles are feeling weak.
I don’t feel any pull;
The influence of magnetic North is waning.
But wait—I feel something…
It is unfamiliar.
———-0———
To go with the flow or to resist? – that is the question.
What is this unseen force tugging on my jacket?
It pulls, and it wants to throw me – I could fly apart.
I feel like a planet pushed out of its orbit – disturbed,
Out, and down, and away,
I feel it in my head; I feel it in my heart.
My joints hurt.
———0———
My joints, my bones, my muscles are aching,
What is this force drawing me to its core?
Help, I need some respite!
———-0———
Can anyone tell me,
Is there a different centrifugal force out there?
This one is hurting me.
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Some report weightlessness,
They say they don’t feel a thing; they are numb,
There is no push, no pull; they feel alone–deserted.
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Are there any sensible centripetal,
and centrifugal gravitational forces out there?
The Cross of Calvary – strong planetary Centrifugal Force,
I have experienced your pull, your magnetism.
Like an unseen magnetic field — always pointing True North,
I can’t resist, I want to say yes! Yes, yes.
I open my heart, my soul,
Please come in and sup with me,
I belong to You,
I am Yours.
———0———
Now I am free — at peace,
The fields of Your magnetic Love,
Your compassion for me, has conquered my heart.
I have found my place of rest, my equilibrium.
———–0———-
Please draw me — ever closer to your core!
By W. Van Zyl
What are the forces that ‘centrifugals or centripetals’ your life? Or, maybe there is no pull. Are you alone and weightless? Are your ‘joints, bones, and muscles’ aching?
What has Potočnik and the Von Braun’s wheel – aeronautical concepts and pioneers – to do with spiritual and other life forces?
In the modern contemporary world that we live in today – being constantly pulled in all different directions and threatening to fly apart – what could we do to keep our joints (faith), muscles (resilience) and bones (hope and promises) strong? Are these foreign forces overpowering you? Have you ever sat down and investigated the ‘gravitational forces’ that are influencing you? Are your bones and muscles weakening? Are your hope and faith dashed? Do you feel unloved?
Maybe you are affected by the lack of solid and consistent centripetal and centrifugal forces? Are you feeling lonely? Have you lost your sense of direction?
In this unusual juxtaposition of science and spirituality, I use an unexpected parallel between the two to drive my point home. You will be pleasantly surprised. Please read on. I address the destroying forces that humans may experience today. However, I offer a possible solution.
Maybe your muscles and bones are strong. This article will confirm and provide additional depth to your strong ‘gravitational forces.’
The first concepts we have to cover are physical: ‘centripetal and centrifugal forces.’ As the ‘world,’ as we know it, is spinning at its known rate, it has a massive impact on us individuals as we navigate the possible future—or is it ‘accelerating?’ We are global citizens. We are confronted by challenges like sustainability problems, population explosion, dwindling resources, increasing carbon footprints, the decline of water quality, climate change, looming wars, cyberspace issues, food shortages, to name a few.
Let’s look at the physics of centripetal and centrifugal forces and what the concepts mean.
How could a science lesson, or an illustrated scientific concept, provide a spectacular model for mental health, motivation, and philosophical reasoning? Can a scientific model or concept shed light on everyday living? What we need today is equilibrium. The ‘weakening of joints, muscles and bones’ are rife. In the modern world that we live in today – pulled in all different directions and threatening to fly apart – the question arises of how could we keep our joints, muscles, and bones strong and healthy? What do I mean by a weakening of joints, muscles, and bones, you may ask? Some are experiencing no gravitational force; they are ‘weightless.’
Let me offer an explanation. By looking at two pioneering aeronautical scientists and engineers of the past: Herman Potočnik (Slovenia/Hungary) and Wernher Von Braun (German/US). Their interest and passions? Solving the problem of space travel and space living in the future. The problem of living in space is the weakening of the human body over a short period.
Table of Contents
Who is Potočnik? Herman Potočnik was a visionary who attempted to solve the problem of space travel: Namely, overcoming the lack of gravity (weightlessness) in space for health reasons.
Herman Potočnik – the Slovenian engineer interested in space travel and space living – died at the age of 36 in 1929. Little was known about him at the time of his death.
Potočnik dedicated the last years of his life to space travel and space living. He realised the problems and offered a solution. In his book ‘The Problem of Space Travel: The Rocket Motor’ – translated from German to English in 1929 – he gives an account of the problems and a possible solution. His big idea? Spinning a space station to produce centrifugal and centripetal forces.
Blueprints for the Habitat Wheel, a space station concept developed by Herman Potocnik in 1928. The rotating station was modular in design. Potocnik’s complete technical blueprint was the first to fully develop the notion of a space station, and many of his ideas, in modified forms, can be seen in modern technologies that will be used on the International Space Station (ISS). See International Space Station: Continuing the Journey.https://www.archdaily.com/510617/venice-biennale-2014-slovenia-to-explore-the-culturalization-of-space/538507cec07a80317a0000fa-venice-biennale-2014-slovenia-to-explore-the-culturalization-of-space-photo
As we know, humans can only live for several months in space. After a prolonged period in space – floating weightlessly – the bones and muscles weaken, the pressure of the eyeballs decreases. Can you remember seeing footage of astronauts who are carried from the spacecraft and space shuttles after returning to earth? They are not strong enough to walk. The lack of gravitational forces in space and the consequential weakening of human bodies is the problem Potočnik addressed this problem in his short life as an engineer.
Other facts about living in space are that it is very dangerous. Without protection, people would not be able to survive there. In space, there’s no air – so you can’t breathe. It’s cold – so you could freeze. And, there’s lots of nasty radiation (from the Sun and the rest of the Universe), so you could get sunburned.
Von Braun, after Potočnik’s efforts, picked up where Potočnik had left his solution and built on his ideas:
About the wheel of Wernher Von Braun:
The illustration shows a Von Braun 1952 space station concept. In a 1952 series of articles written in Collier’s, Dr Wernher von Braun, then Technical Director of the Army Ordnance Guided Missiles Development Group at Redstone Arsenal (US), wrote of a large wheel-like space station in a 1,075-mile orbit. This station, made of flexible nylon, would be carried into space by a fully reusable three-stage launch vehicle. Once in space, the station’s collapsible nylon body would be inflated much like an automobile tire. The 250-foot-wide wheel would rotate to provide artificial gravity, an important consideration at the time because little was known about the effects of prolonged zero-gravity on humans. Von Braun’s wheel was slated for several important missions: a way station for space exploration, a meteorological observatory and a navigation aid. Illustrated by artist Chesley Bonestell.
In 2018 and 2019, a brilliant idea for a space hotel was revealed almost seventy years later. See the details and a video of this extravagant concept at the end of this article. Below is a picture of the modern futuristic space hotel. As you have probably heard – Elon Musk of SpaceX – has plans and dreams to take people to Mars in the future.
Credit: https://bigthink.com/technology-innov…
Back to the centripetal forces that provide gravity for balanced living. Allow me to use a Christian model to explain. Later I would like to challenge you to consider the centripetal force that brings balance to your life. But, for now, let’s look at the Biblical model (the writers’ interpretation). From a spiritual perspective, the most significant centripetal force is God’s Love.
CENTRIPETAL FORCE 1 = 1 John 4: 7 & 8
7 Beloved, let us love one another, for love is from God, and whoever loves has been born of God and knows God. 8 Anyone who does not love does not know God, because God is love.
The most significant thing that draws me to God is that God is my Father, and He loves me. That is a massive force! It will hold your muscles (resilience), your bones (promises and hope) intact. No matter what, God loves me. He cares — his promises to give me a hope and a future.
CENTRIPETAL FORCE 2 = Jeremiah 29:11
‘For I Know The Plans I Have For You’ Declares the Lord, ‘Plans to Prosper You and Not to Harm You, Plans to Give You Hope and a Future.’
CENTRIPETAL FORCE 3 = 2 Corinthians 1:20
20 For all the promises of God in Him are Yes, and in Him Amen, to the glory of God through us.
A summary of those ‘gravitational forces.’
30 And thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind, and with all thy strength: this is the first commandment.
31 And, the second is like, namely this, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself. There is none other commandment greater than these.
Mark 12: 30 & 31
15 And he said unto them, go ye into all the world, and preach the gospel to every creature.
16 He that believeth and is baptised shall be saved; but he that believeth not shall be damned.
Mark 16: 15 & 16
The centrifugal forces – the pull outward
Now that I have named the centripetal forces, it is time to discuss the centrifugal forces. Forces that pull outward. Once a person accepts Christ and is filled with the Holy Spirit, a force from within produces powerful love (Agape love = God’s love). This love wants to tell of the love of God, of His goodness, and His mercy. It is a force that works powerfully from the inside. And, that is precisely what I am doing here in this article. Telling.
CENTRIFUGAL FORCE 1 = Mark 15:16
He (God) said to them, “Go into all the world and preach the gospel to all creation.
The function of the other ten planets in our solar system.
As we know, gravitational forces are exercised by every celestial body on each other. That is why the earth and its surrounding ten planets create perfect gravitational harmony. Not too much push and not too much pull – just the right amount to ensure equilibrium.
Initially, only nine planets were identified in our solar system. However, discoveries suggest that there is a tenth one. A name like 2003 UB313 doesn’t sound very exciting, but this far-flung body of rock and ice has rocked the world of astronomy. At about 3,000 kilometres (1,864 miles) across, it is a bit larger than Pluto, and it looks to be a lot farther away — almost three times as far. But it does travel in the same circles (orbit-paths) as the other nine planets in the solar system.
What a coincidence that there are ten planets. I want to compare the influence of the planets to the ten commandments in the Bible. It has a significant function to bring stability to every person and society. The gravitational forces include:
The Ten Commandments appear twice in the Hebrew Bible: in the books of Exodus and Deuteronomy. The commandments include instructions to worship only God, to honour one’s parents, and to keep the Sabbath day holy, as well as prohibitions against idolatry, blasphemy, murder, adultery, theft, dishonesty, and coveting.
What is the first and most vital gravitational force for equilibrium? Love the Lord thy God. Worship Him.
My challenge to you
Now that I have explained the Christian model, may I ask you a couple of questions? I wonder what are the centripetal and centrifugal forces in your life? What are those fundamental things that drive you? What are the ‘ten planets’ and their gravitational pull in your life? Which ones are the strongest? I am referring to those truths and values that get you excited every day. Those values and beliefs that govern your very being. Those things that provide hope, resilience in adversity, and those things that give hope to you in a ‘dark night.’
I include more details about the Wheel idea of Wernher Von Braun. So cool!
More about Von Braun’s Wheel
In 1956 the idea or concept of Wernher Von Braun was released. The video shows the science behind his work.
The newest development is based on Von Braun’s Wheel idea (future plans 2025).
Planning for 2025: The Von Braun Space Hotel – The Gateway Foundation.
In an interview with Dezeen on 31 August 2019, Paul Ratner reports:
‘The World’s first space hotel with artificial Gravity will be in orbit in 2025. The Gateway Foundation is building a space hotel named Von Braun Space station, based on the concepts of an American rocket scientist Wernher von Braun. Robots and drones will be used to assemble the hotel in orbit itself. It is expected that the first-ever space hotel will be operational by 2025. The shape of the space hotel will be like an enormous wheel having a diameter of 623 feet. The wheel-shaped giant space hotel will rotate slowly to generate a gravitational force. The Hotel will have 24 individual modules with sleeping and support facilities. These particular modules will be spread around the wheel on three decks. The space hotel would be able to accommodate about 400 people in total. Actually, the Von Braun Space Station would be made of two rotating concentric rings, which would provide artificial Gravity one-sixth as strong as Earth’s.
Artificial gravity will provide a sense of direction and orientation. It would be easy to perform the essential tasks like walking, eating food, going to a toilet and showering, the way we are used to on Earth. “Eventually, going to space will just be another option people will pick for their vacation, just like going on a cruise or going to Disney World.”
Tim Alatorre, a senior design architect of the Von Braun Space Station, said in an interview with Dezeen. It is interesting that Wernher Von Braun, the man behind the first space hotel, was a top Nazi rocket scientist who developed the infamous V2 rocket. He was taken in by NASA after the war. There he became a famous American scientist. According to Tim Alatorre, the senior design architect of Von Braun Space Station, the space hotel will be something like a cruise ship. It will have many of the things you see on cruise ships: Restaurants, bars, musical concerts, movie screenings, and educational seminars.” just in space. As the demand for such vacations in space grows, the Gateway Foundation intends to build bigger space stations. They call the next class of space station “The gateway”. It would have the capacity to accommodate more than 1400 people in total.’
Credit: https://bigthink.com/technology-innov…
Aliens in this world?
Christians are described as aliens – a peculiar people
9 But ye are a chosen generation, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a peculiar people; that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light. 1 Peter 2:9
Copyright © 2020 by William Van Zyl
Space Wheel Gravity: Your Spiritual Force
All rights reserved. This article or any portion
thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner
whatsoever without the express written permission of the
publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
Published by Five House Publishing (New Zealand)
First Publishing, 2020
About the author:
Self-portrait – ink and watercolours. Credit: William Van Zyl
- The author is passionate about Christian perspectives and Christian philosophical thinking. He loves to write about many different matters and issues that relate to real-life situations. Science and the scriptures inspire him – those extravagant links between the two – it creates a spark for new stories and articles. He loves to explore different perspectives and paradigms; he then compares it to a Kingdom perspective. However, he always ends up with the Kingdom’s view. The centripetal forces mentioned in this article are just too strong to let him go. It is like an unseen magnet! The centrifugal forces are just too strong for him – he can’t be silent. He is a lifelong scholar and student.
- More about the author: http://williamvanzyl.com/
