The Observer Affects the Observed: Power of the Beholder

Babylon 5 is one of the most underrated sci-fi series ever made. Great characters, interesting alien cultures, with action, drama and comedy with cutting edge effects for the time. It captured what good sci fi is, illuminating human struggles and courage. I was thrilled when I saw they had an animated version called Babylon 5: Way Home. 

The main character John Sheridan gets caught in a time loop that pushes him through many different times in his history and through alternative universes.

One of them is when he makes it home and sees his father on Earth. He reminisces with him. Especially the time he gets lost in the corn fields, which discusses with his father. 

“I started to panic. Which only made the situation worse. And then I thought, if panic doesn’t help, maybe being calm will do something. For a long while after that, I’d go in once a week to get lost on purpose. Just to prove to myself I could always find my way home.”

His dad asks: “why’d you stop?”

John answers: “I got tall enough to see past the corn.”

His dad responds: “Perspective changes everything, I guess.”

Perspective is important, you get it with age, experience throughout time. He slowly learns to find his way home with the right mindset and understanding. He jumps around aimlessly due to fear and anxiety. It is only once he discovers the right frame of mind. 

He is guided by an old friend: 

“In all realities, all universes, the everything of everything. There is no greater force than love. 

Tearing apart is easy. Destruction and hate are easy. Which is why they do not  endure. What love knits together can never be torn asunder. The universe itself and all things within it bend to that power. As you say “the observer affects the observed.” 

When that eye sees through love anything is possible.”

How true. The love you have for your child, your spouse, your parents, your siblings and cousins, your friends, your community and your country. It’s so motivating and powerful. It’s also a much more positive way to look at the world. 

I’ve long been driven by hate, anger, fear and love. Hate and anger tends to be my default. Fear embedded in my heart due to my scarcity-driven immigrant upbringing. But when I look at what I treasure and what has been most impactful, long lasting and sustainable, love has usually been the reason. My wonderful daughter, my marriage (at least the first 18 years of it), my friendships, my travel and my books. 

In one of the final jumps: Sheridan says to his guide: “I have so many questions.”

The response: “And that is the glory and beauty of mortality.”

Knowing we only have so many years of life, we need to make sure we are living it to our full potential and filling it with as much experience, purpose, joy, and love. That’s what I am reminded of again by Babylon 5.