"Nature is extremely subtle.  I happen to think that the depth of natural substances cannot be fathomed by mankind.  Because after all we only have, let's say, 100 billion neurons.  How can you match that with the infinite depth of nature?"  -- Chen Ning Yang

Chen Ning Yang, one of China's greatest physicists, passed away last month.  His death was acknowledged by leading physicists across the globe.  Chen's contributions to his field will reverberate for many decades to come.  For good reason.  Consider the quote above.  Though I do not know Chen's position on spirituality or the transcendent, I appreciate the essence of his observation.   Whether we attribute our beginnings to the "infinite depth of nature" or a transcendent presence, that is, God, we will forever try, and always fail, to understand the precise character of the natural world.  We may understand how it will works, we may uncover the physical laws that govern it, but we will never grasp, fully, what it really is.

How can we?  We're thoroughly human, finite bits of particles and neurons.  We cannot expect to comprehend, in this life, the point of what made us.

Are we therefore happy that we're here?