NdukuOutLoud

If asked to define a hierarchy of being, I would place it as follows: God, Artists, Children, and us. Because this order reflects the awe and wonder I feel toward creation, creativity, and the potential of humanity.

I choose to believe in God-as the ultimate source of life, existence and the messy in between. But this idea is held with openness, allowing room for new understanding. Either contradictory, or a bit more clarifying.

Artists come next because of the unparalleled ability to create from scratch. They take broken glass and make beauty, compose music that voices our inner feelings, write words that transport us to new worlds. Their talents amaze me. Artistry is non just expression-it’s a reminder of the immense opportunities we have. An entryway to other realms, realms that feel almost sacred.

Yet, as much as I am awed, I often feel small in comparison. I sometimes find myself questioning my worth and my contribution. What’s my place in where there’s symphonies and novels that touch the soul? And then I console myself, that my role as an admirer is meaningful in itself. That art exists because of us who witness it, reflect on it, and carry it forward.

Children follow closely behind because they represent innocence, pure potential, and unfiltered wonder. Their presence reminds us of the endless possibilities within us all-the capacity for growth, curiosity, and playful exploration.

Finally, the rest of us-the brilliant, contradictory, everyday humans. While we might not compose symphonies or embody childlike innocence everyday, we’re here, participating in life, finding beauty inn moments big and small. A key part in this tapestry of creation.

Feeling small in the face of greatness doesn’t diminish us. It invites us to grow. Smallness reminds us how vast the world is and how much there is to learn. Our admiration connects us to artists, children, divinity itself. Smallness is potential-just as others create, so can we. Even our ability to witness and be moved is a powerful contribution.

So, this is my hierarchy-a reflection not just of awe but of the roles we all play. Whether creating or appreciating, we’re part of something bigger. We’re all connected to greatness, in our own unique ways.