IT - Pieces in the Dark

Chapter 17 - Body

Chapter 17  -  The Body

 

“OK,” said Sam “I am going to show you some things using another analogy now very briefly, so that you can see and understand things from another perspective. I want you to just close your eyes and imagine that you are all cells in a body.” They all did so.

“So we are all together somewhere inside the body, it doesn’t matter where, you can choose. You could be one cell on your own if you are one person, or part of many cells if are a group or organisation doing a specific connected job, like an organ. 

“You can’t see me as it is dark inside the body; you just know that I am there somehow. I am connected to the cell behind me, and I am communicating with you in some way.”

“OK,” said the Biologist “I can visualise that in my head.”

“Now open your eyes” said Sam, and amazingly, they were now all cells floating around somewhere inside a body. Except for the Priest who was just a small version of himself floating around with them, but Sam just ignored that.

They could all sense a vibration around them. They could feel the electricity in the air or whatever it was they were in, the swishing sounds, and the deep throbbing reassuring sound of a heart beating somewhere. They could feel a sensation that they were part of something; they could sense the messages coming in, the chemicals, the energy, the flow, the reassuringly safe protective warmth.

“So,” said Sam “just like in a normal body, as cells we all have things to do and functions to perform. We react to stimuli and we are also able to develop by learning and adapting to our situation. Somehow we know that we are meant to work together, and that being together feels correct, and we can communicate.

“We are supposed to work together with one another to perform a role and that works very well somehow, or should do. We are our own cells but we are also part of something much bigger. We do what we do, we do what we can and we do what we are able, with what we know..

“As cells we have met many other cells, and have gathered information from them, and we have also seen other parts of the body. The cell behind me has been programmed with the ability to receive information coming in from all over the body by various means, and also from other cells.

“This is then translated and the information is conveyed to me, along with other information in other ways, which I am able to interpret. I can then translate that into context, and can build up a picture of what is happening in the body, what the body looks like from the inside and outside, and how it is working. Then I do what I do.”

There was a nervous cough from the Biologist, but Sam continued.

“We are bound together and complement each other efficiently; synchronised to a smaller or greater degree as required. The information received indicates that the body is in trouble, and is panicking. I believe I need to do something about the problem. That’s my impression, but other cells who may have been passed the same message, haven’t yet built up enough of a picture or knowledge to know what to do, or how, or to understand, what is really going on.

“The same messages are coming out from lots of other cells - you can see that if you look around, but they can’t see the overall body or understand it, or know how it works, or piece it all together in context. So they just make assumptions based on what they know or believe, or imagine.

“But how can you do anything else when you are just in one cell, in one specific area inside a body, in the dark? All you can do is what you can. You survive, do what you feel is right, and respond to priorities and responsibilities, which is ok.