Entropy and a Sense of Identity

Entropy is such an amazing force in our existence. According to the laws of thermodynamics, the universe has an incessant drive toward chaos. The second law of thermodynamics describes the relationship between the amount of chaos at work around us and the amount of energy it takes to resist such chaos. Because entropy (read: chaos) is so strong, the universe is continually spending energy to prevent the spread of chaos, becoming less effective at preventing more chaos, and thus losing more energy than it gains. In short, there are no constant systems; at some point, everything breaks down.

This sounds fatalistic, but we all understand these principles. Our bodies require constant work in order to prevent decay. We brush our teeth, take showers, exercise, and sleep because we are preventing our natural decay. We will do this for our entire lives until the day arrives on which we no longer have the strength to resist. Death will overcome us, and entropy will continue its spread.

Thermodynamic law mirrors Christian theology. According to the first few chapters of Genesis, and reiterated throughout the rest of the Bible, the sins of Adam and Eve started a chain reaction of brokenness in our world, and every human (except for one) has repeated the same errors, thus continuing the destruction of our world. Christians often say, “We live in a fallen world,” just as scientists describe the existence of entropy in the universe.

These are facts of life. Most of us know them, but we spend our every waking moment trying to ignore them. We love to behold beauty, laugh, and play in an effort to postpone the inevitable. The very term “recreation” shows that we try to REpeat CREATION by refreshing ourselves and those around us. But we still know that it will all come to an end one day, so we encourage one another to enjoy every moment of joy we can grasp.

It’s healthy to pursue joy and happiness, but we need to acknowledge the existence of entropy so that we will not cling tightly to systems of the status quo. Humans naturally grasp for a centerline or a point of reference. We have an internal balance that tells us when we are falling, so we learn at an early age how to sit, stand, and walk without falling down. Our desires and emotions act the same way – we find ideas, people, and worldviews in which we are most comfortable, and we fight against those who will take this away from us. This drive to find a centerline of balance is good and healthy. When someone says, “Just be yourself,” they mean, “Be honest about the centerline(s) in your life.”

But we all have to admit that every point of reference will change in some way, or even go away altogether. The older we get, the stronger we fight against change. Since the world is constantly changing and shifting, it’s as if we become increasingly delusional at our ability to overcome entropy.

I don’t want to be fickle, wishy-washy, flaky, or weak in principle. I also don’t want to grow into a dogmatic, arrogant, prickly codger incapable of seeing change around me. I need an identity by which the community around me knows me and by which I know myself, but I also need the humility to change that identity as the world changes around me.