For those of you who haven't figured it out already: I'm a nerd. A geek. Somebody who should have been beat up in the school yard a long time ago. And I'm ok with it.

I love Star Wars. I read sci-fi.
And so, on Thursday night I went with friends to the opening of the new Star Trek movie.
Now, this was the first Star Trek I'd ever seen.
And it was good.

Capt. James T. Kirks in his end of the movie soliloquy talks about space. And how its the final frontier. Its all that we have left in this universe to explore. Its the only mystery remaining.
And while I like Captain Kirk (and think he's slightly adorable), I disagree with that.

(now I realize that all of you are slightly judging me for 1. Going to see Star Trek and 2. For arguing and disagreeing with a fictional character. But stick with me and see where I go with this).

For all our knowledge, for all our discoveries, for all our genetic mapping, stem cell research, GPS navigation systems, deciding Pluto's not really a planet- for all of our progress and advancement- space is not the final frontier or the only mystery we have looming before.

For all our wisdom, we still just don't understand the human spirit.

What is it in people that keeps them fighting for life, when all doctors have declared imminent death?
What is it in people that makes them determined to love and be loved, when they've experienced the breaking of their heart?
What is it that makes people continue to marry and make life long covenants with each other, despite the overwhelming divorce rates?
Why do people keep fighting for freedom when they've fought for thousands of years and gained nothing?
What keeps that young girl going to auditions, when everyone tells her she doesn't have what it takes?
What keeps us praying when we aren't hearing answers?

For all our robots, advanced weaponry, and blue ray dvds, we still can't explain what it is about the human spirit that keeps on hoping. Never surrendering. Never stopping. Always believing.

Space isn't the final frontier. We are.
We are a mystery that can never be explained.
For space is a singular thing- that someday will be explored in compeltion.
But we humans, we are many and diverse and constantly changing and evolving.
There will always be mystery and new frontiers in the world.
They are within us.

We don't know. We don't have a clue what that tiny voice inside of us is. That place in us that urges us to keep on, to push on, to remain faithful, and to always hope.