All the little atoms were lined up as they should be, and their invisible electrons like Spark were behaving properly, doing exactly what they were allowed to do in the Universe. Although these atoms couldn’t be observed by the naked human eye, that didn’t matter. What really matters to atoms is that everyone of their elemental sub-atomic particles without exception obeys the inviolable Laws of Nature.
There was a rumor going around on this particular day that something big was going to happen. The excited electrons passed the rumor along, but they were so obedient that they made no move to change their orbits until the precise moment arrived to do so. Such was the strict discipline among the atoms and their elemental constituents, Speck and Spark.
The positive and the negative parts of the atoms teased each other as usual that day, but no one dared to disobey the laws that governed their existence. Each part knew what it was, what it could do, where it could go, and how it should react to external stimuli like gravity. The whole chain of atoms was so harmonious that an outside observer might think that absolutely nothing active was going on. Yet, the whole process was very dynamic, and minuscule changes were taking place that could not be readily observed by human scientists and their sophisticated instruments. The individual particles were acting stable because of their respect for the law.
One of the little electrons had been chosen to activate the process that was rumored to take place and change the identities of many atoms. Every other electron was wondering who that electron was. But only one was to receive the initial message and to pass it on instantly. When any bit of instruction which triggered action was received, each electron had no choice but to react immediately as it knew how.
Another strange thing that cannot be observed by humans when it happens is the exact moment and the precise location of any change of behavior of the parts of an atom. Things happen too quickly for humans to notice until everything that is supposed to happen is already in motion.
The stage was all set for the big day, and the active electrons circling each nucleus were on alert as always. Their routine was invariable until something unique caused them to respond differently, and nothing had so far. The tiny electron, Spark, was happily going about his business. His primitive thinking apparatus was not bothered about the fact that he might be bored with his routine. His job was not fun as humans would define “fun.” Having “fun” wasn’t his basic objective, obedience was.
As he spun around the nucleus of his atom time and time again, he occasionally bumped into other active electrons. “Excuse me,” he would say politely even when the accident wasn’t his fault. Day in and day out, he performed his duties as every smart electron does. Although he was tempted to change orbits, he stayed in place whirling around in the infinitesimal space that was assigned to him. There was no pay for his job, no applause for his performance, and no special reward for exemplary achievement except perhaps continued perpetual motion.
The little electron didn’t need food, or water, or sleep to be ready. When the moment finally arrived for him to take necessary action, he was prepared. Carpe Diem was the command, and Semper Paratus was his motto. The final instructions came instantaneously to him, and he responded by passing them along as fast as he could.
An Earth shaking “BOOM” was heard by humans in the vicinity, and everything visible to the human eye disintegrated. But the little electron was unharmed. He was still doing his thing, obeying the Laws of Nature in a slightly different location.
A simple electron doesn’t possess a sophisticated brain capable of inductive and deductive reasoning. It doesn’t waste time plotting nasty sanctions to intimidate disagreeable enemies, demanding more entitlements for itself, exercising “free-will” that it doesn’t have, trying to beat others in some meaningless game or sport, and speculating about how to qualify for eternal life. Perhaps there’s some very subtle binary lesson for intelligent humans in that simplistic electronic “go/no-go” lifestyle.
