You are not here merely...

Yes.

A somewhat gnomic thread?

Well I think he was really talking about himself. He certainly didn't feel he was a simple grain of sand on life's beach.

Which one is the 'he' you refer to, stansgran? Wilson or Hadfield? I expect Hadfield does feel like a mere puff of stardust quite often

We're not here for any reason at all. Why would we be?

There is no "errand".

And if I've enriched the world at all, I've done with it now. I'm not doing any more.

So these clever clogs can leave me well alone!

I didn't mean you when I said "these clever clogs" Bags. Though I'm sure you are.

And I don't mean I've done with the world. Just enriching it.

Bags I must have meant WW as I've never heard of the other one before.

Lovely sentiments, but I agree with jingle (Wow!). I think my arrival on earth was blind chance - think of those millions of sperms! Now I am here, I try to make life better for people where I can, and to enjoy myself, in spite of life's vicissitudes.

And you seem to do it very well Greatnan.

I hope you were sitting down when you read that.

Jingle, I think our ideas often mesh!

Do not think there is a 'grand plan' but try to do what I can to have a positive impact on the people around me and try hard not to damage people or things too much!

stansgran, here is a nice introduction to the astronaut, Commander Chris Hadfield

I believe we are all treading a pre-ordained path .

The pope seems to agree with you nonu judging by his comments on his own security last week so you are in illustrious company.
We await notice that he has cancelled the need for religion, if everything is pre-ordained, why bother with all that paying for masses, holy water, candles, priests etc

I'd hate to think that I was like a tram running along rails pre-ordained in some way without ever consulting me. Fortunately, I don't. I have no purpose; I am a biochemical accident. I may or may not choose to give "meaning" and/or "purpose" to my life; that's my business. Neither my life nor my death matters except in the smallest possible way.

Mind you, I never had a very high opinion of Woodrow Wilson in the first place.

I think Cdr Hadfield is a marvellous communicator, but I would rather have read his own words than a quotation from Woodrow Wilson. I can plug into what you're saying about WW absent and certainly his reputation has fluctuated since his death.

This is quite an interesting link about WW: tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pmwiki.php/Main/WoodrowWilson

One of the things I don't like about Twitter (and there is a lot to like) is retweeting without comment or opinion.

Oh him thank yes I loved his what happens when you wring out a flannel in space. I once met one of the first men on the moon but we were in Philadelphia.

I meant thank you Bags not yes. Ipad moment.

JessM when I was at school, we were taught that zgod knows what we have, are and will do! This meant to me that everything was preordained! My headmistress said "No, He gave us free will!"
To me, logically, the two are mutually incompatible! Where is my logic going wrong?
Perhaps Bags can tell me?

Your logic is fine, galen. Religion isn't logical. Quite a lot of other things aren't either. I'm off to bed. Night all.

Sleep well!

Night night Bags. Mwah! xxx