When I began using the microscope for medical research it was to distinguish normal from leukemic cells – to find diagnostic meaning in the features of the cells. When I began giving slide shows to kids with cancer of the microscopic beauty of what was in their bodies – vitamins, minerals, etc, a new meaning began revealing itself.
Some of the kids became enthralled with the images. Some calmed down while waiting for their chemotherapy. Most didn’t know what they were seeing, in terms of the science. They experienced the images. A young friend with AIDS asked to watch one of these slide shows over and over – it filled him with a joyful knowing – his words.
As I traveled around the country delivering seminars to health professionals, I was often told, the microscopic images made a difference in learning the material, but also in appreciating hidden secrets in Nature. AWE was what I heard. The pictures they remembered.
I know that more is revealed than a simple form or exquisite beauty. I used to think that if we could each see what we were made of, what our inner nature was, we would be inspired to take better care of ourselves and each other. Is that possible?
The image: adrenaline – it gets us going, moves us out of harms way, a molecule of both excitement and danger (stress) tells our cells to get busy.