Life is a continual
evolution;  in order to
survive we must change
and adapt . . .
C
Beyond Infinity: Behind the Brick Wall
Scientists say our brains are sort of
like super-sophisticated computers
and that everything we have
experienced since birth, and maybe
even before that, is stored away in
our hard-drives. People under
hypnosis have described in detail
events from early childhood.
Parents and other adults present
when the events occurred later
confirmed the accuracy of the
reports. Some folks claim to
remember sounds and sensations
they experienced in the womb. A
few say they recall episodes from
previous lives. (Cont. below)
Writers that have inspired me ...
Mark Twain
John Steinbeck
Ernest Hemingway
Erskine Caldwell
William Faulkner
Inside Out  by Leland Durrance Ballard copyright 2007
Column Excerpts
                                                          Beyond Infinity (cont.)

    That anyone can recall anything from several lifetimes ago is a fascinating concept to those of us who do well to remember
    what color socks we wore yesterday. But even in the feeblest minds most things stick -- though they may for a long time lie
    dormant in a dark corner of a locked file, waiting patiently to be brought into the light. An old pal reminisces about a long-
    forgotten incident and we exclaim, "Oh, yes! I remember that!" Certain scents can bring back with startling clarity things we
    haven't thought of in years.

    Memories can flash across the monitors of our minds at any time. One of my favorite pop-ups is a scene from my sixth-grade
    science class.

    Mr. Stevens, our teacher, was attempting to explain to the class
    the concept of infinity. He said that space, like time, goes on and
    on, forever and ever.

    Larry, the smartest kid in class, sat in the desk beside me.
    The way he was squinting and shaking his head, I figured he
    was having as much difficulty grasping the concept as I was.
    His hand shot up in the air.

    "What, Larry?"

    "Mr. Stevens, space has just got to end somewhere."

    Mr. Stevens smiled as he pulled a handkerchief from his pocket
    and began to clean his glasses.

    "No, Larry, it doesn't. It just keeps on going, forever."

    "It can't," Larry argued.

    "Why not?"

    "Well, it just can't, that's all. Nothing can go on forever. Everything has to end somewhere."

    These were the days when common sense still thrived in America and prayer and the Bible were legal in school and God had
    not yet been made taboo. Mr. Stevens said, "What about God, Larry? The Bible tells us God is eternal; that He has always been
    and always will be."

    Larry was silent for a few moments. The rest of us kids  wondered if finally he had been stumped. We should have known
    better. "Well," he said, "that's God. God made space. And we're talking about space, not God. Space has got to end
    somewhere."

    The debate went on. After a while, a hint of frustration creeping into his voice, Mr. Stevens said with a shrug, "Okay, Larry, let's
    have it your way. Let's say a rocket ship can go a hundred thousand million billion trillion times faster than the speed of light.
    And let's imagine that this rocket travels at that speed for a hundred thousand million billion trillion zillion years . . . and then,
    there at the end of space, stands a big red brick wall! Now tell me, Larry, what is on the other side of that wall?"

    Larry put his elbow on his desk, rested his chin on the back of his fist. His eyes narrowed and his brow wrinkled with intense
    concentration. The room was so quiet I could hear my heart thumping against my breastbone.

    "Well, Larry," Mr. Stevens prodded. "What is behind that wall?"

    Larry sat up straight, stuck his chin out, and sucked in a long breath. When he spoke, his voice quivered with awe and wonder.

    "Frankly, sir, I don't know. But it sure ain't space!"
Marshmallows are good!

Chip is a free-lance writer and educator
living in Zolfo Springs. He can be
reached at chipkyle746@embarqmail.com
Yesterday, when
I was young ...

        "First learn the laws of writing, and then rearrange them to suit yourself."
                                                                                                                                Truman Capote
"The louder he talked of
his honor, the faster we
counted our spoons."
                                                       
                              Ralph
    Waldo Emerson

                           "It's not living alone if you keep a rifle under the bed."
                                                                                                                            Chuck Palahniuk
Counter
"Clothes make the man.  Naked people have little or no influence on society."
                                                                                                         Mark Twain
Autographed copies of "Peace River" can be
ordered directly  from the author ($15 per
paperback & $20 per hardcover, plus $5 for
postage and handling) at P. O. Box 746, Zolfo
Springs, FL 33890. Or you may e-mail me at
chipkyle746@embarqmail.com; or call (863)
448-6494 (cell).  Books also may be ordered at
www.PeaceRiverMystery.com.