The Mayan calendar “ending” in December 2012 passed by quietly. So did the “Y2K” debacle, which was much ado about nothing. OK, there was the “IT professional” fool about 45 miles east of the Twin Cities who spent tens of thousands of dollars building and stocking a doomsday bunker. The economy did need some stimulation, and a fool and his money were soon parted.
This time around, it was supposedly Ragnarök, a Norse apocalyptic fable which tells how nearly all the major gods, including Odin, perish in a fierce battle along with the destruction of Earth and the nine realms. This was to have happened yesterday, February 22. The date seems to have conveniently coincided with a Nordic festival. One of the harbingers of Ragnarök is the three-year winter called “Fimbulvetr”. OK, this winter has seemed three years long and as of this writing it is showing few signs of relenting, but it’s not “end of the world” magnitude yet.
Fascination with end of days predictions are prevalent throughout recorded history. Perhaps times of uncertainty and unrest see a marked increase in doomsday prophecies. The Cold War nuclear arsenals stocked on either side could supposedly eradicate all unprotected humans on Earth dozens to hundreds of times over. Religious prophecies have a common theme of a great battle destroying Earth and humanity followed by a gradual rebirth and perpetual peace (or ascension into eternal peace without the rebirth). It would be nice to achieve some form of Utopia without losing billions of lives and destroying Earth along the way.
Trying to influence the unknown is a risky venture. Missing a variable may actually make the situation worse. Many religious teachings and philosophical writings indicate we will never fully know the future nor will we know the exact date and time of the “end of days”. Physicists believe the universe as we know it will exist for another 101,000 years even though humanity is not around to test the theory, and thus we will never know with any degree of certainty. Perhaps we should focus on trying to influence the present.
Start influencing the present by giving your loved ones a meaningful hug. If you are fortunate to have a special someone, let that person know you love her or him. Love has a way of settling the unsettled. Here’s hoping winter retreats quickly and Fimbulvetr averts for another year…or millennium.