Butterfly Effect

Human beings live in complex, interlocking systems. Due to the connections among them, these systems form a lot of feedback loops. The outputs of a system become the inputs to other systems and the system itself. The Internet is one of these systems. Its complexity is comparable to the neural circuits in our brains, to the oceans and the atmosphere because 'Internet' is a giant network of networks of further networks etc. In view of the current trend of globalization and our increasing dependence on the computer and the Internet, it is no exaggeration to say that the Internet is somewhat like the ocean we swim in, the air we inhale and exhale.
One of the most exciting achievements in the last century is the development in the 'Chaos Theory'. It studies the behaviour of non-linear dynamical systems, that is feedback systems. These systems are very sensitive to small variations at the beginning of a process. That is, short term small variations, through feeding back amplified variations from the output, will in the long run, produce very large variations in the end. This is the famous 'Butterfly Effect', which is variously paraphrased as "A butterfly flaps its wings in Brazil, we get a hurricane off the coast of Florida."

A pair of lovers 'innocently' captured their love-making scenes with a hand-held camera. As long as the video remains in the camera, nothing extraordinary will happen. Then, someone (editor) put his hands on the video to edit out some photographs. These pictures are innocent enough outputs. Meanwhile, the lovers, the video-camera, the editor and the computer software do not form a feedback system. No big deal. However, someone uploaded some of these photographs on the Internet. Now, the situation is completely changed. Once these pictures enter the Internet, a gigantic complex feedback system, they initiate a chain-reaction because of the looping back mechanism. The media started rolling, putting more fuel onto the fire. More photos surfaced. Then the police system mowed in, arresting people improperly and consequently had agitated more waves of obscene photos on the Internet ... We will not be able to predict the final outcome accurately. After all, obscene photos are just flaps of butterfly wings. The hurricane? You bet!

Today, we read Daniel 9. He sought God "by prayer and supplications with fasting and sackcloth and ashes" (Daniel 9:3). No wonder, Lent is an appropriate time to seek God because we pray and fast in Lent. How did Daniel pray? His was a confession of sins, not his personal sins, but the sins of Israel. "We have sinned and done wrong and acted wickedly and rebelled, turning aside from thy commandments and ordinances; we have not listened to thy servants the prophets, who spoke in thy name to our kings, our princes, and our fathers, and to all the people of the land" (Daniel 9:5-6).
In ancient times, though people were not able to articulate the mechanism of complex interlocking systems in 'Chaos Theory', they were fully aware of effects of the complex system they lived in. In other words, they were more aware of the 'butterfly effect', how the sins of individuals, whether of kings or of ordinary people, would affect all the people of the land. They acknowledged and shouldered their responsibilities towards the society at large. Modern men are different. They advocate 'individualism', 'human rights' and 'privacy'. They turn a blind eye to the tremendous effects their individual actions have on the society. The question is: Can they do anything in private, whatever they fancy? The answer seems to be no because with a webcam, whether hidden or not, you can exhibit your bedroom worldwide real-time! An ancient Chinese aphorism rings true even today:君子慎其獨。We must be cautious in our privacy. The walls don't just have ears. Nowadays, they have eyes!

My God, we are too self-centred and sheltered. We are blind to the butterfly effect we impart on the world. We have to admit that it is beyond our intelligence to know the consequences in full. Grant us the grace to repent and be more cautious in our privacy. May the little good work we do generate big enough ripples to counter the evils on earth. Amen.

Comment from Ruth:
Hi, Mr. Kwok!  I have a little comment on your last paragraph.
People in ancient times were more aware of the "butterfly effect" because when the Lord's anger kindled, all of them would suffer. 
However, nowadays, sins flood the whole world.  Sometimes, we stay in the wrong path too long and too far.  We even do not recognize or feel that we're wrong.  Besides, our Father in Heaven is upset, but He let us choose our paths as He loves us.  He doesn't punish all of us just because one of the students cheat in his or her exam.  This also makes us don't aware of the "butterfly effect".  It's because we believe we are "individuals".

February 18, 2008.

My Reply:
Thanks Ruth for your input. But your logic is flawed. God was, and is and will be the same. He loved, and loves and will love us. When the Lord's anger kindled, all of them (ancient people) would suffer. Did God not love them as well? If God loved them, why did God 'love' them in a different way? Why was sending calamities to ancient people a more suitable way to love them?
Worse, you are making God responsible for our ego-centric behaviours, by making us not aware of the 'butterfly effect'! We should not put the blame on God's patience and justice for our being self-centred. That is not fair!
Ruth, I am glad to see that you have made tremendous progress in your language, in your enthusiasm. May God bless us all. Keep commenting!

February 19, 2008.