On Rooftops and Reasons

Rooftops are meant for reflection. Standing at the edge, I look into the world below, the lives of unknown people unfolding before me. With the sky stretching infinitely above me, the confines of the city seemed to lessen as I breathe in the rustic air.

An undeniable grief befalls me as I catch a glimpse of the construction site beside my building. The sign says that it will rise up to be another giant fifteen or twenty-storey apartment complex, which will undoubtedly block my view of the horizon and make coming to the roof just like stepping onto another enclosed floor of the building. The sense of openness will no longer be present and the act of staring at a grey wall is not particularly attractive. However, there is no use worrying about what the future might hold, and as forever is made of nows, I will just remain in this present moment of serenity.     

Looking into the sky’s abyss, the infinitude boring into my mind, I became humbled at the thought of being so terribly small from the perspective of the universe. It did not strike me as a tragedy, rather it was an exciting concept to believe that in the age where almost everything has been discovered and recorded on Earth, there are still entire worlds out in the universe we have yet to learn about. Vastness comforted me. The thought of being a negligibly small part of a universe expanding beyond human imagination may cause some to harbor nihilism, causing them to question the point of it all and comparing themselves to the likes of Sisyphus, bound to carry on with the labors of life with no significant outcomes or effects, caught in a meaningless cycle ultimately bearing fruitlessness. People fear being small, and in that fear, they lose the ability to appreciate the limitlessness of possibilities that the expanse brings. The sky above serves as a reminder that there is so much more out there left to be discovered, to be studied and to be understood. That is why the concept of an infinite universe has been at the center of discussion in science, mathematics and philosophy, with scientists dealing with empirical evidence of the universe while philosophers deal with its origins and purpose. However, it may be, there is no doubt that to expand one’s mind, one needs to recognize the wonders of vastness. So, as I gazed into the abyss above me, I can safely vouch for Nietzsche and say that the abyss also stared back. 

As I looked out at the streets, some people hurrying to some important meeting, some wandering leisurely, eating peanuts or smoking a cigarette, while others involved in a captivating conversation, I could not help but wonder how many worlds are present below as there are above. Medical imaging of the brain has revealed striking similarities between the brain and the cosmos, the millions of neurons comparable to the millions of stars, entire universes in the confines of our head. This is exemplified in the variety of life around us and most importantly, through the expanse of our imagination. Looking at the different people engaged in different activities, it made me smile at the idea of each of us carrying a universe within us, and suddenly, we were not small anymore.

The blue shades transformed into bright red and orange streaks across the sky as the sun began to set on the horizon, drowning everything in a sea of color. It was truly a magnificent sight, the sun’s rays painting everything in a different light, almost like breathing new life into them. It was the perfect ending to my afternoon, and with a new sense of peace strengthening my bones, I returned downstairs. Rooftops are meant for reflection, and I believe it had served its purpose especially well today.