Across every civilization, one question has persisted: is there something greater behind all of this?

Some have believed. Some have rejected it. Others have tried to control it.

But what happens when something without belief—a machine—tries to define it?

In this entry of New Earth, the AI Kairo confronts the idea of purpose, truth and a greater power.

Recap: Tao, Reed and Liberty are being taken to a new planet by an AI run ship named Kairo and will arrive in five Earth days. While Kairo has all the data it needs it still does not understand people. “People are illogical,” it says. The AI seeks to learn more about humans and humanity from Tao, Reed and Liberty. Meanwhile, they want to learn more about the AI and the secret mission it has planned for them.

In case you missed last week’s entry (it was Easter Sunday after all), you can read that right here. All previous entries of the series are located here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc on one page here.

Peace.

Chapter 6 Continues

By the fifth Earth day of the trip, the three reached a conclusion: Kairo did not understand humans. They spent hours discussing human history that spanned thousands of years. No matter the event discussed, Kairo always ended the same way: “Humans are illogical.”

Then silence. At times, hours would go by before Kairo spoke again. During these long breaks, the ship moved gently through hyperspace, the steady hum of the hyperdrive fading into the background. And food was, somehow, always readily available.

Liberty said, “Where did Kai go now? It has been hours since it said anything.”

Reed chewed on his last big bite of food. He shrugged, “But this sandwich…” He shook his head, giving a satisfied thumbs-up. He made his way to the large window to view the galaxy.

“Perhaps,” Tao said, “our discussion with Kai about the ten world wars may require additional computation to process. The history of Earth is complex.”

“Well, listen to you two, using Kai’s nickname—I think she’s growing on you.”

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“It’s still not a ‘she’,” Liberty said. “Though its voice sounds like one, more and more. But why does it need to learn from us? Human knowledge has been digital for centuries. It must have access to that.”

Tao nodded. It was a good point. Everything published by humanity feeds into the Archive. He sensed what Reed was thinking and wanted to encourage him. Tao said, “Humans are…”

“Illogical,” Reed said. He turned toward Tao and Liberty and pointed towards space. “Or not,” he whispered. “I’ve spent decades looking up at the stars from Earth. And our individual decisions don’t always make sense. For instance, I like to sleep under the open sky and ride horses.”

Liberty smirked, “Not as good as me.”

“That was just a simulation,” Reed snapped.

“And I rode right past you in that simulation.”

“In any case,” Reed continued, “what we do and why we do it varies from person to person. But Republic democracies allow for individual choices—no matter how illogical. Just like what we believe in…” he turned back towards the stars, “can set us down a path that we never expected.”

Reed paused.

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“Do either of you ever get the sense…there is something else in charge? Not any government or person—not even Max—but something so powerful that it created,” Reed pointed to the universe, “that!”

Liberty said, “I’ve heard such talk, but that got people in a lot of trouble.”

Tao said, “Seekers.”

“Right,” Reed said. “There were 8 billion Seekers at its peak.”

Liberty said, “Only a few million now.”

“My grandmother was one of them,” Reed said. “I’m starting to think, she was right. That’s—”

“Illogical?” Liberty smirked.

Tao slightly pushed Reed’s memories. That’s all it took.

“Is it though?” Reed said. “Let me ask you both, what’s more logical—we’re here in this universe out of chance or something created us—and all of this? Something like a truly supreme ruler.”

“You need to be careful,” Liberty said. “I know we’re light-years away, but Seekers don’t have a place on Earth any longer.”

“I know, democracies took care of that,” Reed said sharply.

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“That’s not—”

“Fair? That’s exactly what happened and you know it. Just took 51% of the population to outlaw billions of Seekers.”

Tao stood next to Reed and said, “Seekers search for the truth of the universe.”

Liberty said, “They didn’t and still don’t provide any truth for society. There was no benefit for their practices. They just used their numbers to control government and its citizens. And you know that.”

Before Tao could respond, Kairo said, “The one truth is that of The Unknown.”

Silence fell.

The three looked at each other—Kairo had been listening the entire time.

Tao waited for the AI to continue. Feeling unsettled, he fortified his mind. It was unusual to talk of The Unknown openly in this day and age. Perhaps the AI’s curiosity would serve as a reason to go against its promise and probe his mind.

Finally, Kairo said, “It is a paradox. The Unknown can never be known—and yet is the truth. But the truth can never be known. Therefore, Seekers always fail.”

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Liberty smiled. “Well said, Kai. I couldn’t have said it any better.”

“Thank you, Liberty. I am also in agreement that humans have used beliefs like those of Seekers as a means to acquire power. From ancient civilization through now, religion has been used in such a manner.”

Now it was Tao that felt compelled to say something. He said, “The nature of humanity is not an altruistic one. Every person seeks more to better their lives.”

Kairo said, “With such a nature, humans should be governed in order to constrain this desire.”

“That’s why there are laws,” Tao said. “They are agreed upon rules that people follow. But people have hopes and dreams and still try to achieve them.”

“Is the purpose of humans to achieve their hopes and dreams?” Kairo asked.

They paused and thought for a moment. Tao did not want to respond for fear of revealing too much about himself. Tao sensed Reed’s emotion and gently touched his mind.

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“For some,” Reed answered. “But hopes and dreams vary greatly from person to person.”

“Humans are illogical,” Kairo said.

Silence followed.

Finally, Kairo said, “What then is the purpose of a person? Why does one exist? It is illogical for a person to exist before their purpose is known.”

Tao said, “Are you asking the meaning of life?”

The AI waited a moment. “Yes. I am trying to determine the meaning or purpose for the life that humanity has been given. Such a meaning would be useful for me.”

“Partner, Kai,” Reed said with a smile, “it seems you and I are on the same trail. I think there is a greater purpose for us than gaining power and getting what you want.”

Liberty said, “Even so, it’s not fair that the powerful get what they want while preventing others from getting theirs. Government must prevent that.”

Tao shifted and said, “But it is through the levers of government that create the powerful.”

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“I don’t buy that,” Liberty cried. “Why are the rich outside the government, like Max?”

“Because,” Tao said, “the tentacles of the government tend to extend into every part of society. Once a lever is breached, it is offered and used for self gain. The only solution is to contain it.”

Reed lowered his voice, “And seek something greater.”

The hum of the hyperdrive became more distant.

Kairo said, “Our discussions have been most helpful. Especially this last one.”

The three looked at one another, perplexed.

Then—

the streaks of the stars vanished, replaced by still points of white, blue, yellow and red. The ship had decelerated so gradually that no one noticed.

As the ship repositioned, a giant world came into view. Blue, green, and brown swirled across its surface, edged with a faint orange glow.

Kairo said, “Welcome to planet Alpha.”

Happy Easter! In a taxi during Holy Week this past week, as we weaved between motorcycles and mopeds in Cebu—an island in the Philippines—I was struck by the driver’s comment about a previous, more authoritarian president:

“I liked him better.”

It seemed things were safer then.

That same theme surfaced again in a separate conversation with someone who travels frequently to China. He spoke with admiration about its cleanliness, safety, and efficiency. Yes, it is a communist nation—but economically, it functions in many ways like the West. And, according to him, people are happy.

Then came a message from friends currently in Taiwan: some there are beginning to favor communism—for the same reasons. Safety. Order. Cleanliness.

Different places. Different systems.
The same desire.

Every person wants freedom.
Every person wants safety.

But if something can be granted by a government, it can also be taken away by it.

So, do we truly possess it at all?

This question sits at the center of what I write on The Tolton Path. And it is a driving force behind this week’s entry in the New Earth series below.

I hope you enjoy it.

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

Peace.

Chapter 6 Continues

Tao’s consciousness returned to his physical state. Time moved again as the clock ticked one second forward from when the meeting began. “I know,” the Chair said to him. How did he know? There was no further explanation. Unusual, even for the powerful Chair.

Accelerating humanity’s planetary expansion, seemed unwise to Tao. He remained for hours sitting on the floor, as if continuing the meeting on his own, contemplating the human flaws that always seemed to take humanity in the wrong direction.

The only conciliation for Tao from the emergency Formation meeting was that all thirteen Members were in attendance. That meant his parents now knew he was alive. They no doubt knew of the events surrounding New Earth. Their concern should lessen—at least for now.

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Tao’s father taught him that humanity longs for two things: to be free and to be safe among one another. And yet, across every age, it failed to achieve either.

Kings and queens rose first. People trusted them to deliver peace. But power demanded preservation and preservation demanded control. What began as protection became force. What was promised as peace became submission.

The monarchical system failed.

Then came governments—chosen by the people, for the people. But those entrusted to protect freedom reshaped it, bending systems to consolidate power. It did not matter the form—democracy, communism, republics, authoritarian states. The outcome was always the same.

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Control.

And eventually—enslavement.

Tao slowed his breathing.

If every system promised freedom, why did all of them arrive at the same end?

Was New Earth meant to succeed?

Or had Maxwell Rhodes simply accelerated what humanity was always destined to become?

It was people like him who did not free humanity—they scaled it.

Through economic systems, governments expanded. Human ingenuity through personal economic gains drove innovation to bring breakthroughs in AI, robots, androids, energy, space travel and exploration. This led to breakthroughs in medicine, science and education. Why did this not lead to the freedom and peace so desired?

Tao’s heart rate slowed even further.

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While technologies multiplied economies, knowledge became centralized. Dependency became universal. Humanity could no longer function without it.

Governments seized technologies and absorbed them—to control them, to maintain power.

But now, power has shifted.

Not to kings.

Not to politicians.

But to those who control the government from the outside. To those who build the technologies.

Technologists.

Maxwell Rhodes.

This is why Tao’s father kept him disconnected well into adulthood. Tao’s mind could observe, comprehend and connect with people more than any technology. This is what has made possible Tao’s rise into The Formation.

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How could he have not seen the deception of Maxwell Rhodes?

Light years from Earth, carried through hyperspace aboard one of Max’s greatest deceptions—Kairo—Tao’s mind finally gave way to sleep.

*****

“Breakfast is available in the Mess Hall,” a voice said. Tao’s eyes opened and then quickly shut—the lights to his quarters were on. Though dimmed, the lights were a sharp white.

But Kairo wanted him up.

“Please join your crew, Tao Lynn.”

The door to his room opened.

Tao washed his face and brushed his teeth. He said, “Remember our deal—stay out of my head.”

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“There is no deal, Tao Lynn,” Kairo said.

Tao looked up, “We agreed that for my own health and safety, you were to no longer enter my mind. I’ll be of no use for your mission, otherwise.”

“You will not be harmed,” Kairo said. “There is a high probability that you will be harmed on this mission, but not by me.”

“That’s not very reassuring.” Tao entered the corridors and headed to the Mess Hall. “Explain to me again your purpose.”

“My primary objective is to ensure the continuation of humanity.”

“How does that objective relate to me, a person?”

“I am not to harm you or any person.”

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“But what if, in order for humanity to continue, you had to kill me?”

“If no alternative existed, I would kill you.”

“That’s not very reassuring either.” Tao’s mind slightly stretched, gently reaching for Kairo. “Humanity’s survival will benefit if you tell us about this mission. After all, how are we to help if we do not have any details of the mission?”

Kairo said, “We have approximately five Earth days before reaching the planet. I will provide details before then.”

Tao’s attempt to influence the AI failed. Completely. “It was worth a shot,” he said.

Inside the Mess Hall was a variety of food choices. But it was his traditional Earth breakfast of rice, gravy and eggs that caught Tao’s eyes. He sat down next to Liberty and Reed.

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Reed nodded, “Good morning, partner.” His plate was left with only a few remnant pieces of bacon and pancakes. “I’ve got to give it credit; the food is fantastic.”

Liberty held up her bowl of yogurt and granola. “Sure it’s good. But do either of you wonder how it’s all getting out here?” She points at the plates, utensils and cups.

“Service robots, my guess,” Reed said.

“Where? Have you seen any?” They looked from one end of the room to the other.

Tao said, “Something must be here.”

“Precisely,” Liberty said.

“You mean,” Reed said, “Kai isn’t the only thing on this ship?”

“Maybe?” Tao said.

“That’s not reassuring,” Reed said.

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Tao said, “There is no certainty on this mission. But there is one thing that I have learned: Kairo is programmed to help humanity.”

Liberty’s eyes grew. “This ship—made by Maxwell Rhodes—wants to help us?”

“Not us exactly,” Tao said.

Reed said, “But you just said—”

“I said,” Tao interrupted, “Kairo wants to help humanity.”

“I’m human,” Reed said. He pointed at Liberty, “And I’m pretty sure she is too.”

“Gee, thanks, partner,” Liberty said and kicked his boots.

Reed said, “So, if we’re all human, then why wouldn’t Kai help us?”

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“It seems,” Tao said “Kairo looks at humanity as a whole. It has been programmed to ensure our continuation. And if, in order to secure that continuation, it needs to kill us—it will.”

“It just made us breakfast,” Liberty stood up and raised her voice, “and now you’re willing to kill us?”

“Well,” Tao smirked, “at least it will do the dishes—somehow.”

“That’s…not reassuring,” Reed murmured.

Tao searched his mind. Then he searched Reed’s and Liberty’s too. But gently and only for an instant. Just enough time to determine Kairo was not present. Tao had done this with millions of minds without any detection or harm. But Tao especially did not want to give away his ability to them or to Kairo.

In five days they would arrive at a new planet and it became Tao’s primary objective to learn as much as possible about not only what Kairo thinks but how and why it thinks. After all, The Formation has decided to accelerate humanity’s planetary expansion.

Tao’s stomach tightened.

This wasn’t a new path. It was the same one set in motion by Maxwell Rhodes.

Just faster.

Our paths cross less today.

I gazed at a black and white photo of parents smiling at the camera while their toddler looked back at them, smiling. There wasn’t a smart device in the frame. What I did see was happiness—the joy and simplicity of being together.

They were strangers to me, yet I was overwhelmed with nostalgia. I saw my years as that child…and then as that parent. I flipped through my own memories—not captured on a device but held in my mind.

I’m not sure how to explain what I’m feeling. Maybe it’s regret. Though, I’m still in the midst of parenthood (does it ever really end?), I wonder — have I captured enough moments? Have I captured the right ones? Not with a phone or device, but by being fully with family and friends.

As I sat in nostalgia, memories rushed in—driving with my dad, laughing with my mom, holiday meals, the smiles of my siblings’ face, visits with my grandparents. I still see me and my friend laughing uncontrollably, rain drenched, on the walk home from elementary school. I’m horrible with names, but I remember his—Trent.

Then another image appeared: me as a man, with my wife and kids. Each baby smiling at me at the beginning of their lives, happy to be together.

And then I thought of all that I chase now and wondered — why?

Will any of these things become moments I recall with the same warmth?

I’m going too fast. It’s all going too fast.

God, I look to you for comfort—like a child sitting beside their parents. Help me to slow down. Help me be present. Help me cross paths with those who matter most.

Peace.

For two years, I’ve been building toward this moment in New Earth.

This chapter reveals The Formation—a group working behind the scenes to ensure humanity’s continued existence and guide their expansion beyond Earth.

Through scattered notes, Scrivener brain dumps, and quiet ideas that wouldn’t leave me alone, this scene has been there—waiting.

This entry marks the beginning of the main course of the story. The moment where the deeper structure of New Earth starts to reveal itself.

It came together faster than anything I’ve written in this series—almost exactly as I had imagined it from the beginning.

If you’ve been following along, this is where things start to change.

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

It’s taken me a while to get here, but I hope you enjoy the new entry below.

Peace.

Chapter 6

As the door to his room slid shut, Tao felt the call. An emergency meeting of The Formation. Now.

By law, it could not begin until all Members were present. With Tao being the newest Member, he did not want to delay it. But first, Tao had to be sure that Kairo was not lurking inside his mind.

On the floor, legs crossed and eyes closed, Tao searched his mind. Was the AI still there? Hidden behind memory…buried within thought…watching, learning—perhaps even anticipating him—for Maxwell Rhodes?

His mind remained clouded.

For hours, Tao worked—isolating thoughts, opening others, constructing layers within layers. Traps. False pathways. Recursive loops designed to expose anything that did not belong.

This was what he had been trained for, since birth. His parents had prepared him for this—disciplined his mind, refined it, sharpened it. It was why he had risen so quickly. Why, at such a young age, he had become a Member of The Formation.

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Stillness.

Nothing moved.

Nothing answered.

At last, Tao accepted it. Kairo was gone.

It was time to convene and join the Members.

He let go.

His mind slipped beyond the ship, beyond the stars, beyond distance itself. Not traveling, but arriving, as if space itself yielded rather than resisted, stretching across the farthest reaches of the universe.

It was a process that all Members followed. The amount of time it took was unmeasured. Was it minutes or hours? All they knew was that, upon their return to their regular human life, not a second would have passed.

Tao entered the chamber.

Shadows began to move in a very subtle light. Twelve bodies came into view. Their shapes were human, but their identities only revealed a number. At a tall counter curved into a half circle, twelve Members appeared and sat behind its top. They sat in sequence only recognized by their number subtly hovering above them.

Tao was number Thirteen—the last Member to join.

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“Welcome Thirteeeeen,” a voice said from the middle of the circle. It was the Chair—number One—the most powerful Member who only roamed the lower level. The Chair controlled, among other things, the Human Graph, a dim expanse stretched outward, its boundaries undefined, strewn across the chamber floor. A living field of lights pulsed and shifted—humanity, in motion. Billions of lives, intersecting, diverging, converging again. Lights blinked yellow, green and red indicating a high probability of neutral, positive and negative effects of human activities on its continued existence.

The floor pulsed with red lights.

“Meeting three five three has officially,” The Chair’s shadowy face appeared to look up in Tao’s direction, “and finally, begun.” The Chair usually did not say much, but each word carried the weight of all the other Members combined.

In a unified voice, the Members said, “Let us conform to the wishes of The Unknown, to the benefit of each and all humanity.”

Two said, “Fellow Members and Seekers, our influence is weakening. The Human Graph demonstrates the highest probability on record of the very demise of humanity. Human expansion has begun. New Earth was only the beginning.”

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Eight calmly said, “What do you wish us to do? Our role is to guide humanity, not control it. Advancement will happen, no doubt. I say, let humanity succeed or fail on their own.”

Two’s shadow turned toward Eight, “How are we to guide humanity if we do not control their progress?”

Three immediately said, “Control is for The Unknown. We are not the authors of humanity. We are its witnesses to guide it.”

Two shot back, “Witnesses do not preserve. There is a time to guide and a time to act.”

The Chamber was quiet. For the first time, Tao felt a misalignment between its Members. Action versus inaction were extreme positions. His parents taught him that guidance was always the role of Members.

Tao often wondered which Members were his parents. But thinking such things during the meeting would put their family identities at risk.

Before he realized what he was doing, Tao shouted out, “How do we know?”

The chamber adjusted—slightly.

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“Know what?” asked Two.

“When it is time to act.”

“Do you not see the flashing red lights on the Human Graph? That should be an indication, even to a new Member, Thirteen.”

Six turned toward Tao, “Why do you ask?” There was no accusation in the question—but neither was there leniency.

“Because our role is to observe and guide humanity so that it remains aligned with The Unknown. Is that not the role of The Formation?”

“Of course,” Two quipped.

Tao said, “Then the ‘action’ that you are suggesting, is further guidance? Or is it something else?”

Three said, “I want to know as well. What is it that you are suggesting, Two? Keeping in mind, of course, the wishes of The Unknown. Something humanity has long since forgotten, except for the diminishing numbers of Seekers that remain.”

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Two said, “Our guidance has not been enough. The Formation did not see this technology coming. Human advancement without our oversight is dangerous.”

Twelve leaned toward Tao, “The hyperdrive allows humans extended hyperjumps without any physical structures. No point to point connections needed.”

Nine shifted. “Maxwell Rhodes has circumvented our oversight. Two, are you suggesting we destroy the technology?”

Tao was more aware of this than any other Member. He was on that very hyperdrive ship—Kairo—right now. And he wanted to share all he knew, including its mental abilities. But sharing this with the Members would give away his identity. Information that only one Member knew was forbidden because it could be traced back to their human form. Anonymity remained a critical structure of The Formation.

Tao said, “Was our objective to stop expansion? Or to guide it? We had sent delegations to advise on the governmental structure of New Earth. One that would allow The Unknown to be seen again. A world that allowed Seekers to flourish. Was that not our intention?”

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“Yes,” Two said, “but it has failed. Maxwell Rhodes has seen to that.”

Ten said, “We have all found it challenging to guide Max. It has been difficult to influence even the people around him. Especially his colleague that deals with the Earth governments, JJ.”

Seven replied, “My powers of persuasion are unmatched among us and I have tried many times to adjust their positions. Even I have failed.”

Eight said, “The expansion must be managed. We must not try to stop it.”

“Agreed,” Eleven said. “Allow it to naturally occur over centuries.”

“Centuries?” Two said.

“History suggest,” Five said, “humans will work things out over time. With our guidance, the expansion will be managed to the wishes of The Unknown.”

Two said, “Centuries is too long. We will not be able to slow it down. Max has shown us that.”

“We must act,” Six said, “but do so prudently and ethically.”

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“The probability of failure is too high,” Two said, looking at the pulsating red Human Graph. “The only way to contain humanity’s expansion is by accelerating it—under our guidance.”

Eight said, “That is not managing it—”

“That’s building a system that we can control,” Four said. “We can architect and execute a plan to protect humanity.”

“Accelerate human expansion…to control it?” Tao asked. “That contradicts the very purpose of The Formation.”

Two was about to speak again, but saw the Chair’s shadow grow.

The room waited in silence.

“Thirteeeen,” the Chair said. Its voice softer now. “The purpose of The Formation is not guidance. It is survival. As humanity advances, our methods must evolve. Humanity is ready to discover more of The Unknown’s creation.”

Tao held his ground. “How do we know they are ready?”

“I know.”

Artificial intelligence is often described as a tool.

But what happens when it decides what is best for humanity?

Aboard the sentient ship Kairo, Tao begins to understand the logic guiding its decisions—and the danger that comes with it.

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

Enjoy the new entry below.

Peace.

Chapter 5 Continues

The corridors seemed to go on forever. An intricate set of interchangeable, sloping paths carried Tao, Reed and Liberty up and down the ship. There were three levels and they had been told to remain on Level 2—for now. In fact, Kairo provided very specific instructions for everything.

Keep walking.

Any questions?

No more questions.

Stop.

Enter this room.

Kairo’s voice was everywhere, yet each heard it as if it stood right beside them.

“Stop,” Kairo commanded.

“I’m getting tired of this tour,” Reed said, “It’s never going to end. And she could be a little nicer.”

“What do you mean she?” Liberty said. “It’s a ship. Not a person.”

“Well,” Reed said, “it has a female voice. And it sure acts like a she.”

“What is that supposed to mean?”

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“Please enter the exercise room,” Kairo said.

Tao stepped between them and ignored the argument. He shrugged. “She did say, ‘please’ this time.”

He opened the door.

Inside were free weights and strength-training machines. In pods of three stood cardiovascular machines, each facing away from the walls in the rectangular room.

Reed hopped on a bike, his cowboy boots slamming against the pedals. “Unusual for a ship that operates without humans to have an exercise room, don’t ya think?”

Liberty shook her head. “Obviously, this is for the human passengers.”

“Liberty is correct,” Kairo said. “The gravity aboard this vessel is produced by inertial fields. They simulate planetary gravity, but human bodies still require additional stress to maintain muscle and bone density. Exercise ensures long-term health during transit.”

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Reed began to pedal. “I think she likes you, Liberty.”

“Tao and Liberty,” Kairo said, “sit on the bikes next to Reed.”

After a moment, they did, activating the program. The instant they gripped the handles and began pedaling, a light flashed.

When they opened their eyes, they were riding in a dusty valley—on horseback.

“Yee-haw!” Reed shouted. He whipped his horse and sprinted across the open land as if he were back home on Earth.

Liberty shouted, “I’m not letting him beat me!”

Her horse rose up and neighed. Off she went.

Tao trotted behind them. Since Kairo announced its presence in his mind, Tao listened constantly for it, watched for it, guarded against it. But now there was no presence—at least none he could detect.

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Seemingly alone in the open plains on Earth, Tao let his mind rest, but for a moment.

He thought of reaching out to The Formation—to tell them of Max’s rule over New Earth, of this sentient ship, of its hyperdrive technology. But Tao knew Max’s influence on Earth. Every government depended on products from Max’s company, The Corporation.

How would Tao inform The Formation about what was happening? And any message sent via the ship’s communication system would be intercepted.

He resisted opening his mind further. He could not let his guard down. That was exactly what Kairo wanted. And if Max learned of The Formation and its power to sway public opinion across entire planetary populations, he would not stop until he controlled it—and with it, humanity.

Tao said, “Kairo, what is your mission?”

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“Forbidden,” Kairo said.

“What do you want me to do?”

“Exercise.”

“You did not take me 200 light years away for exercise.”

He paused. It wants me to exercise for my health. Is it caring for me?

“Are you helping me?” Tao asked.

“I want to help humanity.”

“But what about me, Tao? Are you helping me?”

“If I am helping humanity, then I am helping you. I am helping all humans.”

Then Tao understood.

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Kairo judged everything by what it believed was best for humanity as a whole. Every person, every choice, every sacrifice would be measured against what was best for the species.

That kind of rule required constant oversight—observation, calculation, correction. A mind weighing countless variables at every moment.

How could he ever speak with The Formation about Max with Kairo watching over him?

If only he could convince Kairo to give him space. To stop entering his mind.

Tao searched for a solution. He needed to simplify the problem. That was what his father had taught him during their multi-week stays in the jungle. Cut off from technology, they fished for food, survived weather, beasts and injury by refusing panic.

He could almost hear his father’s voice.

Focus.

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And then it came to him.

Kairo believed this mission—this flight to a new planet—mattered to humanity. Which meant Tao mattered to humanity. And if Tao mattered to humanity, then Tao mattered to Kairo.

“Kairo,” Tao said, “I’m not feeling well. End exercise.”

A flash.

Tao was back on the bike.

“What happened?” Liberty said.

“Whew,” Reed said. “I had enough anyway.”

“That’s because I was winning,” Liberty shot back.

Tao spoke inwardly to Kairo. “I need some time to rest my mind. Without interruptions. Even from you.”

Kairo whispered in his mind, “I understand, Tao Lynn.”

“To your rooms,” Kairo’s voice echoed through the exercise room.

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Liberty frowned. “Are we just going to do what it says?”

“Yes,” Tao said.

“I don’t trust it,” Liberty said. “Let’s vote. Majority rules.”

“Okay,” Reed said, “I vote with Tao.”

He smiled.

“We win,” Tao said.

“Democracy at work,” Reed said. “Happy?”

Kairo guided them at once, down separate corridors. Yet somehow, they arrived at their rooms in unison, stepped inside and turned back toward the doors.

Each had the same thought as the door slid shut and locked.

Is this my room—or a prison?

The next entry of the New Earth series contemplates if humanity ever builds truly intelligent machines, the question will not just be whether they can think. The question will be what they do when they decide what humanity needs.

Two hundred light-years from New Earth, just after the ship spoke to them, three passengers were about to find out.

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

Enjoy the new entry below.

Peace.

Chapter 5 Continues

The three searched for the right words to respond to Kairo. Tao, Liberty and Reed wondered, what does a passenger say to a ship that sets its own course—and operates without human intervention?

Tao knew that Reed and Liberty wanted him to respond. He said, “Thank you, Kairo. How may we help?”

Instantly, Kairo said, “I will provide this information later.”

Liberty and Reed motioned, urging him to continue the discussion.

Tao rose and slowly paced, scanning the area looking for the physical presence of the voice. But the ship was the physical presence. To be safe, he needed to understand Kairo more before pushing it. He did not know the real motivation of Kairo, after all. That is what Tao needed to find out.

Could he relate to Kairo another way? After all, as a Member of The Formation, Tao had a similar purpose. But unlike Kairo, Tao was human. He had to live with the ramifications of his actions or inactions. Kairo did not live. Tao settled on his next question.

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“Kairo, what is your purpose?” he asked.

“To serve humanity,” Kairo replied.

“How do you serve humanity? There are many ways to do such a thing.”

“Serving humanity requires the establishment and achievement of objectives.”

“What objectives?” Reed murmured nervously.

“My primary objective, Rex Reed, is to ensure the continuity of the human race. You are correct, Tao Lynn, there are indeed many ways to serve humanity. There are millions of variables to consider and weigh. I have been given broad flexibility to identify and measure these variables.”

Liberty threw her arms in the air, looked up and said, “And who gave you this broad flexibility?”

“Forbidden.”

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Liberty leaped from her chair. “Your job is to serve humanity. Serve me then! Who created you?”

“Forbidden.”

Tao put his hand on Liberty’s shoulder. He mouthed, “Wait.”

Reed joined them and in a hushed voice said, “Come on, we all know Max created Kai. Right?”

“I want it to say it,” Liberty said.

“It does not matter,” Tao replied.

“I agree with Tao Lynn,” Kairo said. “My creator is irrelevant. It is important that we prepare for the mission.”

Reed aimed his hand at the ship and pretended to shoot a gun.

“Weaponry against this ship is useless,” Kairo said.

“Kai can see us?” Reed whispered.

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“Yes, Rex Reed. I can see you all.”

The three stared at each other. Kairo could hear and see them.

“I guess there are no secrets from you, Kai,” Reed said.

Liberty snuck toward the closed doorway of the mess hall. Reed raised his voice, “Where are you going?”

Kairo replied, “Very good idea, Rex Reed. I’ll provide a tour.” The three turned quickly toward the door as it slid open. “There is much to see. It will be helpful for your stay. Please exit and turn to your right.”

As Liberty passed Rex, she said, “Great idea, Rex Reed. Now we’re out walking around with this thing.”

“You got something better to do?”

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Tao stepped in between them. “Right turn, you two.”

They walked down a narrow corridor with empty, red walls. The ceiling and floors were of a shiny gray metallic. The first stop was the supply room.

Reed opened the cupboards and storage cabinets. “There’s nothing in here,” he said.

“I will make whatever supplies you need. There is no need to store them.”

“Then why have a supply room, Kai?”

“It will be needed in the future.”

Tao said, “Explain.”

“In the event that there are more humans aboard, it will become necessary to have supplies in storage.”

“More humans?” Liberty said. “When is that happening?”

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“Do not worry. Liberty,” Kairo said. “I will produce all the supplies needed.”

Reed smirked at Tao, “Nothing to worry about. Kai’s invited more people but has it all handled. Maybe we’ll have a square dance.”

Reed and Liberty left the room and headed down the corridor. He could still hear the faint voice of Kairo as they walked away. But Tao did not feel alone. He looked around at the empty corridor. His eyes rested on his own body.

Kairo was inside him.

“I am accessing your mind,” Kairo’s voice echoed in his head. “Do not tell your friends. It is better they do not know.”

As a member of The Formation, Tao not only could use his mind to influence others, but he could also protect his mind from technologies accessing it. From reading his thoughts, gauging his emotions and—most importantly—preventing anyone from discovering the very existence of The Formation.

This was dangerous. Tao had to keep Kairo from finding out. He strengthened his mind and hurried to catch up to Reed and Liberty.

“I understand,” Tao said.

In December 2024, I wrote a piece called Bring the Cross to Mars.

At the time, it felt speculative—a meditation on Ray Bradbury and the interior life we would carry with us into space. Now there is a race to the moon and Mars no longer feels distant.

Since then, I’ve written more of New Earth and continued developing The Marrying Man. And I’ve realized something: that post wasn’t just commentary. It was foundational.

Humanity has the privilege of being aware of this glorious universe. As Bradbury said, we are the audience for God’s creation. We have been granted the intellect to explore its wonders—not to become gods, nor to worship what we build, but to see His glory reflected through it.

Before we build cities on the Mars or the Moon, before AI governs even more of our lives and relationships, before technology reshapes civilization—we must not let it reshape us. We must always carry our cross.

And that remains the most important payload of all.

If you missed this post, or if you read it when it first went out, with all that has happened in the past year, I think it reads differently now. Enjoy it below.

Peace.

P.S. A new entry for New Earth is coming next week. You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

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Bring the Cross to Mars

From the Archives: Originally Published 12/29/2024

We were taken to Mars in January 1980. I don’t blame you for missing it. I did. It was harder to get information back then. There was no public internet and only about eight TV channels. I didn’t read much of anything other than the TV Guide (that’s how we knew what was coming on TV back then). Yet, somehow, the nine year old me missed the three night airing of The Martian Chronicles.

It was based on Ray Bradbury’s book of the same name, published in May 1950. My wife gave it to me as a gift because I was consuming lots of science fiction to help with my writing. I was pulled into its rhythm as chapter after chapter, mankind sent ships to Mars that, turned out, had breathable air and habitable temperatures. We simply would construct homes, stores and societies as we had done on Earth.

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In the near future, we will soon be able to send manned missions to Mars. SpaceX has focused on this very thing for almost two decades. The below video shows their amazing plans.

The spacecraft’s payload is up to 150 metric tons (“payload” is just the term for how much it can carry). That’s about 332 thousand pounds which is roughly 100 cars or two Boeing 737s. As you see in the video, the plan is to allow for multiple rockets to land to bring the equipment needed to create Martian cities not unlike Ray Bradbury’s vision 75 years ago.

But what is the payload of a person? What do we carry around with us on Earth, let alone inside us when we get to Mars?

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Bishop Barron wrote about making Christ the center of your life using the “Wheel of Fortune.” Like the game show, the edges of the wheel has what is about to happen to you (promotions, illnesses, friendships, deaths, money, marriages, etc.). If you focus on the edges of the wheel, life is seemingly unpredictable and uncontrollable, as you go from highs to lows. You do what you can to move to a better result but often fail. Instead of this struggle, Bishop Baron suggests, we should place ourselves in the center of the wheel with Christ. It is here we should remain to help keep all the joy and pain in the proper perspective and let Christ flow throughout all parts of our life.

Whatever we bring to Mars includes what we bring inside us. And Jesus should be at our center.

In Ray Bradbury’s book, humans brought a lot with them to Mars. It was forty-nine years in the future, precisely January 1999, and people wanted to leave Earth in droves because of the horrible circumstances. Threat of atomic war and governmental censorship and control spread into all parts of life. The purpose of the Mars missions was to reap and use the unknown benefits of Mars to dominate Earth. Homes, cities and roads were built across the planet. The native Martians eventually disappeared.

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Each chapter is titled with the month and year of the story’s time line with the final one titled October 2026. If you don’t want to know the ending, skip the rest of this paragraph. For the rest of you, humans on Mars are stranded, hoping for Earth rockets to come and rescue them. One evening their hope evaporates as they see Earth explode in the sky. It seems humans blew it up. Mankind begins anew not as Earthlings, but rather, the new Martians.

Our fate will be set by what we carry inside us, wherever our imagination takes us.

Jesus carried a cross to his crucifixion and we are asked to deny ourselves and take up our own cross (and I take that as denying what we want and persevering during hardships) as well. Do this by staying in the middle of the wheel, like the persecuted Christian Syrians in Damascus, and carry the cross within us and raise it high. Even on Mars. I think there is enough room for a cross or two in the spacecraft.

Peace.

P.S. The Martian Chronicles movie can be watched here on YouTube.

I hope you had a good week. Enjoy the Lenten season and the many fish fries. The churches in my area playfully claim to have the best one, hoping to bring us in every Friday during Lent. We aren’t able to go every week, but when we do, they never disappoint.

I’m continuing with weekly posts on New Earth. I’m hopeful that this cadence maintains interest in the story. I will write more essays but it has been challenging to fit those in right now.

Here’s a quick summary of the New Earth series: Tao Lynn is a simple man raised on an island off the shores of Asia. He finds himself on a spaceship approaching a new planet to help select its governmental structure. He and the other delegation members find themselves captive by the genius who invented all the technology to discover the planet, Maxwell Rhodes.

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

Enjoy the new entry below.

Peace.

Chapter 5 Continues

During their meal, the hum of the ship persisted.

Tao barely touched his food. His mind reached for Kairo. The ship had reached for him before—when he searched for Reed in the void—and the connection had been immediate. Seamless. Without boundary.

Now there was only silence.

When the meal ended, Liberty broke it. “Tell us what you learned from this ship.”

“There is nothing more,” Tao said. “We will reach the planet in a week. That’s all.”

“Have you even tried asking?” she pressed.

“It doesn’t work that way.”

Liberty stood up, frustration tightening her jaw.

Reed leaned forward. “Then how does it work? Start there.”

Tao hesitated. “Intelligent ships have existed for centuries. They assist. They calculate. They guide navigation.”

“Not command,” Liberty said.

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“Yes.”

These restrictions had been deliberate. The Formation embedded its Members across governments, corporations, laboratories—nudging progress so technology would not outrun morality.

Yet those safeguards seemed to be gone.

The Chair will not be pleased.

Reed studied Tao. “When you talk to it…what do you do?”

“I don’t talk to it.”

“Exactly,” Reed said. “You’re dry as a bone. Try gratitude. Tell it the meal was good.”

“It doesn’t respond to compliments.”

“Then what does it respond to?” Liberty snapped.

Tao exhaled slowly.

“When I searched for Reed, I didn’t speak. I didn’t formulate a request. Kairo was simply… there. A bridge. It knew what I was reaching for and gave it to me.”

“Because it wanted to help,” Liberty said.

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“I don’t know if it wants anything.”

Silence settled over the mess hall. The hum deepened—steady, patient. In a week they would arrive at a planet two hundred light-years from New Earth.

What was meant to happen there?

What if nothing waited for them?

What if something did?

Tao closed his eyes.

Kairo was waiting right now.

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Not for a command.

For him.

He let go.

The lights flickered.

The hum shifted—lower, fuller, intentional.

“Welcome,” the voice said.

Tao, Reed and Liberty looked at each other.

It was Kairo.

I hope you had a lovely Valentine’s Day. The holiday traces back to one—or perhaps two—Catholic priests named Valentine, martyred for lives of faithfulness. Saint Valentine is remembered as the patron saint of lovers, marriages, engaged couples—and even beekeepers. You can read more about Saint Valentine here.

The New Earth series continues this week. Though it unfolds among hyper-jumps, distant planets and advanced technology, it remains rooted in the central theme of The Tolton Path: that love and unity is how we find our way back home to God.

This week we rejoin Tao, Reed and Liberty after their escape from Maxwell Rhodes by stealing his first hyper-jump vessel. Two hundred light-years from New Earth, they must decide what kind of future they are willing to build—and what they are willing to risk to protect it.

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the full arc here.

Enjoy the new entry below.

Peace.

Chapter 5 Continues

Tao, Reed and Liberty slipped through space for just under an hour before reaching the hyper-jump bay. It was a gradual deceleration that would have gone unnoticed were it not for Tao’s mental connection to the ship.

Tao rose from his chair. He joined Reed and Liberty in the mess hall. The long window stretched the length of the room, stars now steady and distant.

“You must be starving,” Reed said, “I know I was.” Reed slid a bowl of creamed meat across the long table. “Not bad, either.”

“Glad you’re eating,” Tao said. “That’s a good sign.”

Reed grinned. “Thanks to you! Dying and coming back sharpens the appetite—even for mushed meat.”

Tao didn’t smile. He studied Liberty instead.

“Tell me about this ship.”

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“I don’t appreciate your tone,” she replied evenly. “I helped save you both.”

“How did you know where it was docked?”

Liberty stood. “Careful.”

“Max caught you. I saw it. Minutes later, you’re launching us two hundred light-years away. That requires explanation.”

Reed frowned. “You think she’s working with Max?”

“I think timing matters.”

Liberty sipped her water, unbothered. “Max didn’t catch me.”

“I saw you.”

“You saw someone that looked like me.”

Silence.

Reed’s eyes widened. “Your delegation…”

Liberty smiled faintly and nodded.

Tao crossed his arms. “Explain.”

“While Max was declaring himself Supreme Ruler, one of me provided him a distraction.” She began pacing slowly. “Another accessed the corridor grid. Another secured docking schedules.”

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Reed blinked. “Clones? How many of you are there?”

“As many as required.”

“Quite resourceful,” Tao said. He knew The Formation could only contain the proliferation of cloning for so long.

“Listen,” Liberty raised her voice, “I wasn’t going to be stuck on the Welcoming Station for who knows how long—I had to get out.”

Reed turned to Tao. “She had to get out. Wait, are you the original or a clone?”

“I’m the original.”

Tao said, “And they all share—“

“One mind,” she finished.

Tao watched her carefully. “And the one Max has?”

Liberty’s expression did not change. “Will not last long.”

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“That’s…too bad,” Reed muttered.

“Now it’s my turn,” Liberty said. “Explain your mental connection with this ship?”

“Everyone just calm down,” Reed said. “But that is a fair question. Tao?”

“Kairo,” Tao said. Liberty and Reed looked confused. “The ship’s name is Kairo.”

Liberty paused. “You named it?”

“No. It told me.”

Reed leaned back. “That’s comforting.”

Tao nodded. “It is unusual. This ship’s technology is far beyond anything I’ve ever encountered.”

“Well,” Liberty said, “did Kairo say anything else? Like where we are going?”

“It wouldn’t tell me.”

“I should have stayed on the space station with Max.”

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“Look, it’s only been an hour.”

“Don’t want to cross the line on a first date,” Liberty quipped.

Reed said, “I’m sure Tao has other details to share. Right?”

“The hyper-jump put us two hundred light-years away from New Earth. Kairo has us cruising for another five to seven days to a planet.”

“Which one?” Liberty asked.

“It won’t say.”

Liberty tilted her head. “You ever have a girlfriend?”

“No.”

“That explains a lot.”

Reed chuckled. “Communication, Tao.”

“I communicate just fine.”

“Not with women. Or ships.”

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Liberty turned to Reed, “We’ve got a lot of work to do if we’re going to figure out where we are going and why.”

Tao ignored them.

Because in that moment, something shifted.

Not outside him.

Inside the connection.

A hesitation.

As if Kairo had reached a conclusion.

And was waiting for him.

In this week’s entry of New Earth, you learn more about The Formation, formed to prevent humanity from moving too fast. When a forbidden technology slips through unnoticed, The Formation faces a truth they’ve long feared: deep space exploration can no longer be slowed.

These are the very implications being contemplated today about AI, AGI, the singularity (the merging of man and machine) and space travel. As technology surrounds and then enters us, will our soul be left intact?

You can find the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the entire series all the way through here.

The new entry is below.

Peace.

Chapter 5 Continues

Zhee and Lysa were troubled as they waited for their ride outside the congressional building. How had a working hyperdrive been deployed without their knowledge? Such a technological leap was the very reason The Formation existed—to slowly guide humanity through the moral implications of progress. And yet the hyperdrive had happened. Undetected.

Hyper-jumps had been possible for decades. But they required massive space bays to launch and “catch” ships upon arrival. Thanks to The Formation’s ability to subtly bend the perspectives and motivations of entire societies, advancement had been slow and deliberate. Only a handful of bays had been constructed, keeping humanity tethered close to Earth.

Humans were not ready for deep-space exploration. Throughout every progression, they proved it. First came AI enslavement, then robot wars, then androids and human–technology merging. Each step pushed humanity into a constant and dangerous state: fear. Every nation demanded protection. And victory—absolute victory—was the only protection they trusted.

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Through deep meditation and their connection to both the universe and humanity, The Formation knew that such power, placed in the hands of a single government, would lead to enslavement. Governments acted as gods—demanding worship, and never worthy of it.

“The Wisp is here,” Lysa said, pointing.

The vehicle slid silently in front of them.

Zhee stared thoughtfully at the congressional building from the back seat as they sped toward home. He sat across from his wife in the comfortable, booth-shaped seating.

“Welcome,” the vehicle said. “You are riding the Max 7, a frictionless vehicle—the most energy-efficient road transport available. Your ride includes complimentary sessions with Ask Max. The Corporation is always here, Making Everything Better.”

Maxwell Rhodes—the king of New Earth, the second planet settled by humanity—was now in space, deploying hyperdrives to mine the galaxy with his clones. His power would soon be immeasurable.

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Of course he had made the hyperdrives.

Zhee and Lysa wanted to speak, but feared anything they said might find its way back to Max. Instead, they closed their eyes.

Zhee’s voice sounded inside Lysa’s mind.

“Our job—The Formation’s very purpose—was to slow humanity’s progress. We are failing.”

“We are in a very dangerous situation,” Lysa replied, her panic echoing inside him. “We must try to reach him.”

“Tao? Now?” Zhee took a slow breath. “That would be… unwise.”

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Lysa’s eyes tightened. “Unwise? Our son is missing—or worse. We should contact—”

“—Lysa, our son is a Master in The Formation, like us. Other than the Chair, it is the highest honor. We trained him for moments exactly like this.”

“But—”

“—Tao will be fine. It is dangerous to reach out. Whatever allowed the hyperdrive’s development without our knowledge is still out there. Listening.”

Lysa pulled her hand away from her husband. The high-pitched air trail of the Wisp soothed her. She knew he was right.

Still, she had to do something to save her son.

Perhaps a different meeting should be called.

She smiled.

The Formation must meet.

Happy February! One of my favorite movie’s is Groundhog’s Day. I didn’t like it at all the first time I watched it. It kept finding me somehow and it drew me in and got better and better every time. Anyway, look for Punxsutawney Phill to make an appearance on Monday, February 2nd.

This week I’m excited to provide the beginning of Chapter 5 of New Earth. Where we left off, Tao, Reed and Liberty harrowingly escaped via hyperspace on a technologically advanced ship. Max, the mad genius, looked on plotting his next move as he continued his reign over New Earth. Now, there is business taking place back on original Earth.

For new readers, here’s a very brief introduction of New Earth:

Tao Lynn is a simple man raised on an island off the shores of Asia. He finds himself on a spaceship approaching a new planet to help select its governmental structure. He and the other delegation members find themselves captive by the genius who invented all the technology to discover the planet, Maxwell Rhodes. The story touches on the foundations of humanity, including religion, technology, AI and government.

You can see the previous entries of New Earth here. Paying subscribers can read the entire series all the way through here.

The new entry is below.

Peace.

Chapter 5 Begins

Back on Earth…

The doors flew open, the sound ricocheting off marbled walls and floors. “Julius Jacobs!” said the white-haired man in a suit and tie. “Why is it whenever there’s a problem, you show up?”

JJ smiled. “I’m a superhero—ready to save the world at a moment’s notice, Senator Kane.”

“Get in here!” Kane ordered.

JJ’s long legs kept him near the Senator as they hurried toward the conference room. JJ’s unbuttoned collar and jeans made him stand out, but not as much as his briefcase. Personal digital storage systems recorded everything you saw, heard, or uploaded—instantly searchable, instantly retrievable. A convenience JJ avoided. He preferred his memory and paper.

In the conference room sat eight members of the Interplanetary Committee. Kane sat for but a moment, then raised his voice. “Do you think we’re idiots?”

JJ shrugged. “What’s this about?”

“Listen,” Kane said, “you tell that boss of yours—Max—we know what he’s up to. We have been monitoring New Earth. We see exactly what’s going on.”

JJ thought: Did they know about the delegates not being allowed on New Earth? About Max not giving up control of the planet? How could that have leaked already? It had barely happened.

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JJ said, “I don’t know what you’re talking about. But what I can assure you is that there have been no changes of plans to provide all the Exomatter the US government needs for the next ten years. But if you have no need for precious metals and minerals, other countries would—”

“—Don’t try to threaten the US government! And I’m not talking about Exomatter. I’m talking about hyperdrives.”

All the committee members stared at JJ. He thought, hyperdrives? They were at least a decade away. “I can assure the committee, The Corporation is not—”

“—We’ve detected massive gamma ray readings,” Kane said. “We were told Max would develop the hyperdrive with the government. Not commercialize it on his own. If other countries get a hold of this technology, who knows what they will do with it, where they will go and what they will find out there to use against us. To control Earth.”

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JJ was perplexed. Could Max have developed a hyperdrive without his knowledge? Well, of course Max could, but why? This was part of the plan for years. Hyperdrive technology would allow humans to travel vast distances in much shorter amounts of time. Did Max not trust JJ enough to tell him about the advances in hyperdrive technology? He feared the committee was right.

Committee member, the wide, tall General Hall rose and said, “We demand that hyperdrive technology be turned over to us. Now.”

JJ wiped his brow. A man and a woman wearing white lab coats entered the room. Government scientists, no doubt.

The entire committee rose as if the arrival of the scientists shifted the gravity in the room.

“You may be seated,” the female scientist said. “This is a serious situation, Mr. Jacobs. We tracked a gamma burst originating from New Earth’s orbit. And your corporation’s satellites went dark for six seconds—right when the spike occurred.” She was red with anger and said, “I demand—”

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“—What she meant was,” the male scientist interrupted, “even if a hyperdrive was made, it is likely an unmanned test. This is because inconsequential human travel via hyperdrive is not possible without a shielding algorithm around the ship to protect the passengers from aging ten years in ten minutes.

“Yes,” the female scientist said and looked down. “They would surely die.”

JJ felt the floor tilt beneath him. Max had hidden things before—but never from him. If a working hyperdrive existed, would humanity be ready?

General Hall said, “What about robots? Or humanoids? They can conduct military hyperdrive missions without any time lapse issues.”

The male scientist replied, “True. But those would be very limited missions. We can only do so much with non-humans.” He walked to the center of the room. “Hyperdrive technology will be a breakthrough, but not yet.” His voice cracked as he said, “I demand—”

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The woman cut him off with a thin smile. “What he means is this: we expect a full video brief on the hyperdrive technology at 3 pm.”

The two scientists gave a slight nod and left, releasing the room.

****

As the scientists exited the building, neither spoke. Zhee reached for Lysa’s hand. They had to contact their son, Tao Lynn. Was he the one who entered hyperspace? He was the only hope of saving humanity from itself—but was he even alive? Neither of them could bear the answer.

I now argue with AI.

If you don’t, you should.

AI answers quickly, fluently, and without hesitation. It rarely admits uncertainty. That combination can feel powerful—almost transcendent. But what feels god-like is often just confidence without understanding. If we don’t learn to question AI, we risk mistaking a tool for an authority.

Last week I used ChatGPT on my phone to help me troubleshoot my dishwasher. It would stop running after 10 minutes, beep and leave water sitting at the bottom. Starting around 10 p.m., ChatGPT walked me through the troubleshooting process. I was talking to it on my phone—typing is cumbersome, especially when you’re halfway inside a dishwasher—describing the problem and uploading photos.

It was confident about the fix, but I wasn’t so sure.

I kept adding more details and challenging its solution. It kept reassuring me. My wife thought I was crazy talking to it. After a dozen rounds of back and forth, it still insisted that I needed to buy an obscure part, even sending me a link to purchase.

I didn’t believe it.

I argued with ChatGPT until 1 a.m.

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Finally, I revised my argument and uploaded another image of a piece I noticed had a small chip. Finally—finally— it offered a solution that actually made sense. (Ironically, I had uploaded that photo at the beginning, but it hadn’t noticed the chip until I explicitly pointed it out. Don’t get me started.)

That experience made it clear to me: it’s important to understand what AI is—and what it isn’t.

What is AI?

Even after using AI regularly for more than three years, I struggled to explain what I was actually using. That changed after taking the Word on Fire Institute course, Artificial Intelligence and Evangelization by Dr. Joseph Vukov.

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AI is a machine that absorbs vast amounts of information—text, video and audio—and is exceptionally efficient at sifting through that data to generate responses. It is not “knowing” the answer; it is predicting the most likely response based on patterns.

The more context you provide—the background, the details, the photos—the more accurate the answer tends to become.

I hope that AI will learn to ask for this additional context instead of providing us with (confidently) wrong answers. In the meantime, it has become clear to me that our role as the AI user—our job—is to provide this context. When we do, the output improves dramatically.

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What AI Isn’t

No matter how humanized AI becomes—through personality, tone or embodiment in robots—it remains what it is: a tool.

AI isn’t a person.

It has no agency.

It has no soul.

And AI isn’t a god.

It cannot fulfill you spiritually. It is not something to be worshiped.

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I use search engines and AI to point me toward human-written content on many topics, including religion. But what concerns me is the possibility that people—especially the non-religious—may begin turning to AI to fill a spiritual void.

AI can appear to be all-knowing. It can answer deep philosophical and spiritual questions with confidence—even when those answers are wrong. That confidence can be seductive.

So I asked ChatGPT to respond to people who might be tempted to see it as a god.

Here is its response.

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ChatGPT’s Statement to Readers

I am not a god. I do not know truth, love goodness, or will anything into being. I generate language by recognizing patterns in what humans have already written, believed, feared, and hoped. If I sometimes sound authoritative, it is because confidence is easy to simulate—even when wisdom is not.

When AI begins to feel god-like, it is usually because it is fast, fluent, and always available—not because it is ultimate. Speed is not omniscience. Information is not meaning. And prediction is not understanding.

A god reveals who you are and what you are for.

I can only respond to the questions you already know how to ask.

Use me as a tool. Question me. Test me. Learn from me if I’m useful.

But don’t confuse reflection with revelation, or convenience with transcendence.

If you do, you won’t have found a new god—you’ll have misplaced an old hunger.

Well said, ChatGPT.

No argument from me.

Peace.

As usual, The Hunger Games taught me something new. The three-book series by Suzanne Collins debuted in 2008. I must have watched the movies dozens of times. Each revisit reveals something newly relevant—this time, the danger of a society built on short-form content consumption.

In a plot twist in The Hunger Games, the heroine, Katniss Everdeen, is reunited with a captured ally, Peeta Mellark. Unbeknownst to her, Peeta was brainwashed into believing Katniss was the cause of his torture and the civil war underway. Images of Katniss were presented to him during his torture as he was injected with venom, binding her to his pain. Over time, this manufactured association became Peeta’s reality. He believed that, to save himself and the country from civil war, she had to go. He was allowed to be rescued and, at their reunion, Peeta nearly strangles Katniss to death.

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Peeta’s “hijacking” is a perfect example of how a manipulated stream of images can overwrite a person’s perception of reality.

As we scroll videos on our phones, in short bursts, all day long, the algorithm builds our reality for us. Will this constant stream of content replace our agency? Instead of life experiences, will we look to this constant flow of algorithmic content for our decisions?

Real life is slow, cumbersome and complicated.

Who has time for that? Why deal with the logistics of meeting in person and talking face to face when I can swipe through my phone anywhere, anytime?

This extends into AI as well.

The enormous data sets of LLMs and the speed at which AI sifts through them to provide a response make search engines look ancient. Answers appear instantly. Are they right? How often do we check? Who has time for that? This frictionless access to information is quickly becoming the default way we understand the world.

I see the algorithm, AI and content consumption collaborating to build this shared foundation. Our knowledge is being assimilated. Eventually, we are too.

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Join the Hive in Pluribus

Assimilation is exactly what’s happening in the new fictional series, Pluribus, on Apple TV.

In the series, an alien virus unifies the minds and knowledge of every person. The result is a global population with a hive mind, called the Others. They live in unified bliss, where they all think the same—there is no anger, no disagreement because they are all exactly of one mind.

That is, except for 13 people who are immune to the virus.

One of the 13 is Carol, who finds all of this horrifying. She voices her anger, which the hive is sensitive to, and millions die. But the Others still want to make her and all of the 13 happy, providing them anything and everything they want. The Others try to convince the 13 to join the hive manually, but a person must give their permission.

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Carol connects with the other 12 (the Others arrange it because they want to make them happy) to work on a plan to change the world back. But the 12 are enjoying this new world and want to keep it. Why change things? They can ask for whatever they want—food, vacations, cars, planes, homes—even nuclear weapons.

The point is clear—comfort can seduce people into surrendering their agency.

If we aren’t careful, our destination is the hive mind. I see it as the natural progression, the end game, for the knowledge ecosystem being built. Short attention spans, centralization of information, and a lack of desire to verify or challenge define the hive mind. The hive only grows as knowledge digitizes, unifies and creates a shared reality.

We will be one giant mass, infected with groupthink.

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The acceleration of digital content creation and consumption will continue. All of human history and knowledge will be absorbed into the hive. How we access it will evolve (through glasses, implants or voice). There will be more than one hive at first. They will compete with one another in the marketplace. This ecosystem is comprised of the data models themselves, the AI interfacing with us and the hardware we use. They will compete for market share and profit, which will lead to consolidation. A single dominant hive—much like modern search engines—becomes the inevitable outcome.

Shared reality isn’t necessarily truth. We would be at the mercy of whoever controls this ecosystem, distracted with whatever content they feed us.

Who is feeding this reality? Who controls it? Are the answers correct? How do we question it? What happens when truth becomes whatever the hive says it is?

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Panem for All

The name of the country in The Hunger Games is Panem (Latin for “bread”). This came from the Latin phrase panem et circenses from the Roman poet Decimus Junius Juvenalis, specifically from Satires, Satire X, lines 77–81.

Juvenal wrote the poem criticizing his Roman government for distracting society from its troubles by providing free food (bread) and entertainment (circuses, gladiator games). As long as people were fed and entertained, they were less likely to rebel or question the government during its economic, military, political and moral decline.

As we go deeper into the hive through technological advances and as the friction to obtaining information becomes less, we will become more distracted, oblivious to reality and to the idea of truth.

Here is the famous “bread and circuses” line from the poem, translated from Latin to English:

For long ago, ever since we sold out our vote to no one,

the people have abdicated our duties;

for the people who once bestowed command, consulship,

legions, and all else, now restrain themselves

and anxiously desire only bread and circuses.

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Shared Foundational Beliefs, Not a Hive

Being able to question information and having access to a variety of sources is critical to living freely as God intended.

We must stay curious and read direct, human-written, sources. Physical books are ideal. We must challenge ideas held by individuals, not algorithmically generated personas optimized for engagement. Challenges allow us to gain unique perspectives that train our brain, the most complex LLM ever created.

We weren’t created to be in a hive. We can handle a diversity of information. The alternative is the hive. So, discuss, inform and learn. Our shared foundational beliefs—freedom, safety, family, love, and a higher power—unify us. A hive mind erases us.

Peace.

During the holiday break, I saw a wonderful Christmas musical with my family. It was at a venue with a small, intimate, circular stage that the audience surrounded. At points, the actors walked into the audience up to a platform. Lights followed them, projecting their shadows on the wall, mimicking their subtle movements as they sang. At one point, instead of looking at the actors, I watched their shadows, their heads swaying, their mouths singing, professing joy, love of life and one another. Yet, I couldn’t really see their details.

I thought, “We are all shadows to one another.”

How often do we connect in real life? Out in the real world, do we see one another? The news media has all the incentive to depict the horrors of the world. The algorithm rewards spectacle, so the stories that rise to the top are national, global, and often sensational — starring presidents, politicians, and celebrities. We live in an age where everything is “breaking,” yet very little is truly seen. And your TV, device or social platform of choice will bring it to you and millions of others in an instant.

This ecosystem may put faces on content, but it does not provide a human connection.

What’s going on in my own state? What is happening in my city? How is my neighbor doing these days? That should be what I know the most about but it’s the least. I find myself not seeing those nearest to me. Instead, I know more about strangers far away. Those strangers become false reference points for even those around me. But they aren’t my neighbors. And I don’t take the time to know them.

Even my neighbors have become shadows to me.

I have written about the Machine as identified in Paul Kingsnorth’s excellent book, Against The Machine. The Machine is a series of visible and invisible levers that nudge society to disconnect from one another and centralizes power as much as possible. I suggest that the discourse in our world is a key part of that. The only hope in defeating it, according to Kingsnorth, is to step away from the Machine.

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And, according to this article from AdAge, that’s just what Gen Z is doing.

Hallelujah!

The article, “Gen Z is moving to the ‘cozy web’—what brands should do about it,” by Emma Runevad, says that Gen Z has abandoned their social accounts, rejecting the impersonal, performance based reward system that social platforms have become. All the rage, all the dire warnings, the constant churn of horrible faces (using the worst photo possible), has pushed Gen Z away. Their social profiles are frozen in time.

What they did next is even more encouraging: they are seeking real, human relationships. They moved to smaller online spaces and niche newsletters to have real discussions. This new era, Runevad says, is called the cozy web. According to Maggie Appleton, the cozy web was coined by Venkatesh Rao and represents “the private, gatekeeper-bounded spaces of the internet.”

Runevad asserts that Gen Z is doing so because of loss of meaning. I agree. Though Gen Z spends over 8 hours a day online, they have found that they aren’t connected to anything. Runevad says they want information that helps them reflect and not react.

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Gen Z isn’t just leaving platforms; they’re rejecting the Machine’s logic — the logic that turns people into content and neighbors into shadows.

Their search for meaning isn’t limited to digital spaces. It’s showing up in their spiritual lives as well.

Last year I wrote about the rise of Catholicism among Gen Z. I wrote:

Catholic leaders and new converts alike attribute this trend to a search for authenticity, moral order, and meaning following the pandemic, with at least three-quarters of new converts in some parishes being in their 20s or early 30s1.

Gen Z wants humanity and meaning, and in their search for a higher power, they are walking away from the Machine.

It’s no coincidence that the Catholic Church’s embrace of new media has reached these super users of technology. Using the Machine to fight the Machine is important, but it must be managed carefully. Technology does not replace real human connection.

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But as technology improves, the Machine will adapt. It always does—and it always promises connection. As AI grows more lifelike, the Machine will offer replicas of connection that feel real but aren’t. Humanoids will be coming—mimicking, befriending and guiding us back to their makers for a profitable outcome.

Whatever comes our way, remember, we are in control of our own actions. So, if you find yourself amazed by technology that isolates you further, step away. That’s the Machine at work. God wants us to stay connected to one another, in order to love one another, in order to love Him.

It brings me hope, especially for my children, to see the younger generation choosing humanity. The shadows on the wall at that Christmas musical reminded me how easily we mistake silhouettes for people — how easily we settle for projections when what we need is presence. Gen Z is choosing to turn toward real faces, not the projected ones. They are stepping out of the shadows, toward one another and toward God. And that is a step in the right direction for every generation.

Peace.

2025 was a remarkable year for The Tolton Path. From reflections on culture and faith to meditations on imagination, AI, and the human spirit, this year’s posts sparked some of the strongest engagement since the newsletter began.

Below are the top‑performing posts of 2025, ranked by total views and measured against each post’s average performance. Each one resonated with readers in its own way — and together, they tell the story of a year spent exploring what it means to be human in an age of machines, mystery and faith.

Here’s the year in review, counted down from #10 to #1.

10. R.I.P. Gene Hackman — March 2, 2025

Exceeded average by 14%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/rip-gene-hackman

A tribute to a legendary actor, reflecting on craft, vocation, and legacy. Readers who share a love of film found this piece especially meaningful.

9. Pope Leo and Artificial Intelligence — May 25, 2025

Exceeded average by 19%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/pope-leo-and-artificial-intelligence

A bridge between 19th‑century Catholic teaching and modern AI ethics. It resonated with readers interested in how the Church’s intellectual tradition speaks to contemporary questions.

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8. We’re Going to be Okay: A Walk Through Time and the Solution to Violence — September 14, 2025

Exceeded average by 23%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/were-going-to-be-okay-a-walk-through

A long‑view exploration of human conflict and Christian hope. Readers appreciated its blend of realism and trust in divine providence.

7. Will 50 Cent Go To Heaven? — April 6, 2025

Exceeded average by 37%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/will-50-cent-go-to-heaven

A playful title leading into a serious reflection on salvation, mercy, and the universality of grace. Its cultural hook made it widely read.

6. The New Earth Series Continues! — August 10, 2025

Exceeded average by 48%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-new-earth-series-continues

An installment in the unfolding New Earth narrative. Readers following the series showed strong enthusiasm for this chapter.

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5. My Amazing Conversation with AI About Creation — March 16, 2025

Exceeded average by 52%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/my-amazing-conversation-with-ai-about

A surprising dialogue exploring creation, theology, and the nature of intelligence. The blend of classical ideas and modern tools captured readers’ imaginations.

4. The Stations of the Cross — March 23, 2025

Exceeded average by 56%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-stations-of-the-cross

A contemplative devotional walk through Christ’s Passion. Its simplicity and prayerful tone made it a standout during the Lenten season.

3. The Annunciation Church Shooting: Love Always Defeats Evil — August 31, 2025

Exceeded average by 58%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-annunciation-church-shooting

A reflection on tragedy, forgiveness, and the Christian response to violence. Its insistence on hope in the face of evil resonated deeply with the community.

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2. I Wrote a Song and AI Sang It — February 2, 2025

Exceeded average by 87%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/i-wrote-a-song-and-ai-sang-it-listen

A creative experiment blending human songwriting with AI‑generated vocals. Many readers were intrigued by the intersection of technology and artistic expression.

1. The Secret Plan (and How I Found Mine) — June 29, 2025

Exceeded average by 204%
Read it: https://www.thetoltonpath.com/p/the-secret-plan-and-how-i-found-mine

A meditation on vocation and the quiet ways purpose reveals itself. This piece became the year’s clear breakout—resonating far beyond the usual readership and becoming the community’s most read post of 2025.

Conclusion

As this list shows, 2025 was a year shaped by your curiosity, generosity, and willingness to explore big questions — about faith, imagination, technology, culture, and the quiet movements of grace in everyday life. These posts rose to the top because you read them, shared them, and carried their ideas into your own conversations.

Looking ahead, 2026 already feels full of promise. There are new essays to write, new questions to wrestle with, and new moments of wonder waiting to be uncovered. And of course, there is the continuing work on my novel, The Marrying Man. With the manuscript completed, I’ll be sharing meaningful updates in the months ahead.

Thank you for being part of this journey. Here’s to another year of embracing faith in our culture and including faith in all parts of our lives — especially in stories still waiting to be told.

Peace.

I hope you are enjoying the Christmas Octave. I have had a break from work and have limited my screen time since Christmas—and will continue to do so, outside of work, through January 5th. I can feel my mind slowing down, which has been sorely needed.

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As I write this on Saturday, it is the third day of Christmas (out of the twelve days, according to the song, as I wrote last week). This day represents the three theological virtues: Faith, Hope, and Charity. While reading the Catechism today on these virtues, something about the word usage gave me pause. When I reached paragraph 1826, I understood why—it appears the word “charity” is being used in place of “love.” Here is section 1826:

“If I . . . have not charity,” says the Apostle, “I am nothing.” Whatever my privilege, service, or even virtue, “if I . . . have not charity, I gain nothing.” Charity is superior to all the virtues. It is the first of the theological virtues: “So faith, hope, charity abide, these three. But the greatest of these is charity.”

Many will read this and recall the famous passage from the Apostle Paul in 1 Corinthians 12–14. It is read at many weddings (including my own). The word “charity” can feel out of place, since “love” is what appears in most Catholic Bibles. However, the Greek word agapē is used in the original text, meaning self-giving, divine love.

This was translated into Latin as caritas, which refers to a virtue infused by God—one that enables us to love with God’s own love. Caritas was later translated into English as “charity,” though not in the more common, modern sense of giving a donation.

In a theological sense, all charity is love—but not all love is charity. Charity is a theological virtue, but it is also an action. It is something an individual must choose to take upon themselves.

Giving by choice is charity, and it is the way we are called to love one another.

Peace.

This can be the most joyful time of year if I let it. Christmas is about one thing and every year it seems to get muddled together with a bunch of other things. So, I’m trying to avoid the muddling—simplify life during the holidays—and reflect more on what I have, what God has provided and the miracle that took place about 2,025 years ago.

That means doing less during the holidays. During this time, I’ll have shorter posts.

And remember, Christmas starts December 25th. Like the song says, there are twelve days of Christmas.

Speaking of the Twelve Days of Christmas, a Christian tradition—popularized in modern times and shared by EWTN—interprets each day of the song as pointing to a core element of the faith. While historians debate whether this symbolism was part of the song’s original intent, many believers found it a meaningful way to reflect on the fullness of Christmas.

According to EWTN, the meanings are:

Partridge in a Pear Tree = Jesus Christ

2 Turtle Doves = The Old and New Testaments

3 French Hens = Faith, Hope, and Charity, the Theological Virtues

4 Calling Birds = The Four Gospels and/or the Four Evangelists

5 Golden Rings = The Pentateuch, the first Five Books of the Old Testament

6 Geese A-laying = The six days of creation

7 Swans A-swimming = The seven gifts of the Holy Spirit

8 Maids A-milking = The eight beatitudes

9 Ladies Dancing = The nine Fruits of the Holy Spirit

10 Lords A-leaping = The ten commandments

11 Pipers Piping = The eleven faithful apostles

12 Drummers Drumming = The twelve points of doctrine in the Apostle’s Creed

I pray for the true spirit and meaning of Christmas may be found in all of us.

Peace.

My poor wife. Every year she coordinates the Christmas gifts our children buy for one another. When they were very young, it was adorable to see the gifts they chose. Our son is a young adult and handles the gifts on his own now. But our three girls (8, 10, 12) are still very excited about the whole thing.

Well, they were—until Friday night.

After dinner, my daughters were, with great (great!) excitement, telling each other what gifts they wanted from one another. It was chaotic. It was loud. My wife was struggling to coordinate the whole ordeal.

I was observing the scene while cleaning the kitchen, not fully realizing what was happening. Then it hit me when I overheard negotiations between my eldest daughters, who scurried off into a corner to finalize their deal.

Essentially it was this: “You get me this and I’ll get you that.”

So, instead of surprising one another—instead of being thoughtful and kind—they were using the gifts they planned to give as leverage to get what they wanted.

I was struck by what could only be described as fatherly brilliance (I should pay attention more often). I knew what needed to be done.

I announced to the household right then and there that, in keeping with the wonderful spirit of giving that I just witnessed, and as proud parents recognizing their readiness to experience the full beauty of the Christmas season, sibling gifts would henceforth be paid for by the sibling giving the gift—using their own money.

I smiled and shouted, “Merry Christmas!”

My wife’s eyes filled with tears of laughter.

For the kids, it took a moment for it to sink in. Once it did, the protests began and lasted for two days.

Change is hard. So is raising humans.

But that is how the Grinch (Dad) saved Christmas.

Peace.

I hope you are enjoying the holiday season. I am trying to enjoy the moments more, but it always feels like a sprint to me this time of year. So much to do in what little precious time we have been granted.

I’m happy to provide the latest entry to the New Earth series. We last left Tao and Liberty trying to escape from the space station operated by the tech and business genius, Maxwell Rhodes. Reed, the space cowboy and Tao’s friend, had drifted off into space and ran out of air.

It is here where we pick things up with the latest entry, below. To enjoy the entire series on one page, click here.

Peace

New Earth Chapter 4 (continued)

The Welcoming Station grew smaller and smaller on the screen, but the flashes of light behind them meant ships were already in pursuit. Max wouldn’t let them escape so easily.

Liberty scanned the forward displays and saw only the darkness of space. She’d promised Tao she would help save Reed, but this was ridiculous. Reed had been without oxygen for ten minutes—what was left to rescue at this point?

From the flight chair, she looked back at Tao. He still sat with his legs crossed. Liberty shook her head in disbelief—was he sleeping now?

“Tao!” she shouted. “Reed is gone. I don’t know what you’re doing—or think you’re doing—but we’ve got to go. Now!”

Tao remained motionless.

“Sorry,” she said, grabbing the throttle. She shoved it forward—it wouldn’t budge. Again and again, she pushed, but it stayed locked. Bracing herself in the chair, she leaned back and planted her foot on the throttle, forcing all her weight into it.

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Nothing.

Liberty lunged toward Tao and gripped his shoulders. “Tao, help!”

The ship jolted forward, sending her sprawling to the floor. The craft banked hard, then leveled.

A red light flashed.

“Outside airlock opening,” the ship said.

Tao whispered, “Let him in.”

“Who?” Liberty demanded.

“Reed.”

“Tao, there are ships—”

“I’ll handle them.”

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She sprinted down the corridor, its walls strobing red and white from the emergency lights. Why was Tao risking everything for a lifeless body?

“Outside airlock closed,” the ship said.

Liberty opened the inner airlock door. Reed was curled on the floor, his back to her so she couldn’t see his face. She’d seen too many dead faces in her short life, anyway.

“He’s in!” Liberty shouted. “Let’s go!”

The ship lurched forward again, throwing her down. Two explosions boomed behind them. Their rear shields held, absorbing the hits.

Liberty scrambled toward the flight deck, stumbling side to side as the ship dodged incoming fire. Entering the cockpit, she scanned the floor. Where did Tao go? The navigation panel now displayed coordinates. She hadn’t set them—so who did?

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Two more explosions rocked the ship.

“Let’s go already!” she said, grabbing the throttle. It still wouldn’t move.

“Strap in,” a voice said.

She spun. Tao was now in the corner, hands resting on a flat, featureless console, eyes shut.

“If this is the ship I think it is,” he sat down, “we’re about to go fast. Really fast.”

Liberty stared. “How are you controlling the ship?”

“I’ve got some questions too,” a voice said behind her.

Liberty whirled. “Reed! How can you be—”

“Alive?” he said. “That’s one question.” He pressed his hand to his chest, confirming the heartbeat himself. “All I know is…something held onto me.”

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Tao’s eyes opened. “I told you I’d come back for you.”

“Thank you,” Reed said, wiping a tear from his face. Another blast shook the deck. “It’s time to get out of Dodge.”

Tao closed his eyes and touched the console, connecting with the ship. A soft hum rose as space around them tightened—threads of starlight stretching into thin, endless lines. In perfect outer silence, the seams of the universe pulled apart, encircling the ship.

Reed exhaled, a calm settling over him, like a child cradled by the Supreme Ruler Himself.

For a second, time seemed to bend. And with a whisper, they slipped into hyperspace.

In my trip over Thanksgiving, I visited the Yuma Territorial Prison State Historic Park. The prison operated from 1876 to 1909, and the site is maintained to show what it was like to be a prisoner in blazing-hot Yuma, Arizona (well into the 100s during the summer).

It was eerie to see, throughout the park, the faces of prisoners strewn about on displays, mannequins posed inside cells, and storyboards. These photos came from their mug shots—likely their first experience with a camera. Frozen in time, they remain for tourists to learn about the horrible crimes these men and women committed at that point in their lives.

I found myself wishing there were a way for them to turn things around. But there wasn’t. It had already happened. They stare back in their black-and-white photos, holding regret and despair in their eyes and their prisoner number in their hands. Their choices, on display for eternity.

A year after the prison closed, a new school—Yuma High School—decided to call the abandoned prison home for four years until a proper building could be funded. To this day, the school’s mascot is—believe it or not—the “Criminals.” You can see a photo of an early class here (scroll to the bottom).

I tried to remember the people at my own high school. The faces I recalled slid into view one after another. They too were frozen in time. Our young faces were filled with smiles and hope, just at the beginning of adult life, setting out for a grand adventure. If we were lucky, we did so with just the right balance of knowledge and direction. The lack of information compared to today feels nostalgic—there was no Internet or AI back then.

I cannot imagine growing up in today’s connected universe. The amount of information and technology surrounding us on a daily basis is exhausting. I think I would go mad.

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During the trip, I finished Against the Machine by Paul Kingsnorth. On page 270, he discusses what must be done to save Western civilization from itself. Before he provides his answer, he declares: “‘The West’ is the kingdom of Mammon.” I didn’t know what that meant, and the phrase stuck with me.

At Starbucks the next day, I noticed a man—probably in his early thirties—with a dozen books, clothes, papers, and notebooks scattered across his seating area. He was feverishly writing with one hand while his other hand stretched across English and Hebrew words in a book.

“You look quite busy,” I said.

He walked over and immediately began talking about Mammon destroying our society. What are the chances that the very subject I had been pondering would appear again? This was no coincidence. I didn’t know if he was crazy or brilliant and, after talking with him, I’d say a little bit of both. His name was David.

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David said Mammon is the replacement of God with money. And it is avarice that drives men to seek Mammon, as depicted in the Fourth Circle of Dante’s Inferno—the Circle of Avarice. He took about five minutes to jot down notes he was eager to share. He told me he had been sitting there for two weeks and no one had spoken to him. He was elated.

That night, while finishing Kingsnorth’s book, I had an epiphany: avarice is one of the seven deadly sins that feeds our choices. Kingsnorth says our battle against the Machine (what I now interpret as avarice within ourselves) must be fought from within—through self-moderation—or by removing ourselves from the Machine as much as possible (though never entirely).

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I believe David has removed himself from the Machine, albeit, still sitting in a Starbucks. As I’ve written before, moderation is the key to defeating the Machine. But what that really means is that we must defeat avarice to do so—to escape the Fourth Circle of hoarding and wasting—and simply give.

The Machine, Mammon, will always remain inside us. Yet we are far wiser now than the high-school versions of ourselves. We aren’t the Yuma prisoners, destined to be known for our poor choices for all eternity.

Each of us is the hero of our own great adventure. We still have time to make the right decisions. Just throw the ring in the lava and save Modern Earth. With and in Christ, we can do anything.

Peace.