A Machine for Making Gods: Perceiving the Divine in Each Other

It is remarkably easy to go through our days on autopilot, treating the people we encounter as mere background characters in the movie of our own lives. We pass by each other on the street, sit across from each other on public transport, and interact through screens, often forgetting the profound depth contained within every single person we meet.

While looking through my handwritten reflections recently, I found a passage that stopped me in my tracks. It was a reminder of a much higher purpose:

"In the place where we happen to live, let's fill the air with beautiful words, thoughts, and beautiful acts... Perceiving the divinity in ourselves and in those around us is perhaps one of the tasks we are meant to do on this planet."

The Task of True Perception

What does it mean to "perceive the divinity" in someone else?

It means looking past the surface. It means recognizing that the person in front of you—whether they are a close friend, a stranger, or even someone who frustrates you—carries their own universe of fears, hopes, and profound worth. When we strip away our titles, our daily complaints, and our egos, there is a shared, sacred spark in all of us.

The notes I found expressed a deep gratitude for this exact kind of connection: gratitude for being allowed to perceive that spark, and gratitude for the voices and listeners who share their own divinity through their words. When we truly listen to someone, we are doing much more than exchanging information; we are honoring their existence.

Bergson's "Machine"

At the bottom of the page, there was a powerful quote from the French philosopher Henri Bergson:

"The social function of the universe, which is A MACHINE FOR MAKING GODS."

At first glance, calling the universe a "machine" sounds cold. But Bergson’s metaphor is actually incredibly beautiful. He suggests that the entire purpose of our existence, the ultimate goal of all our social interactions, challenges, and shared experiences, is spiritual evolution.

The universe provides the friction, the relationships, and the environment. But we are the raw material. Through our interactions—through choosing empathy over judgment, and through filling the air with "beautiful words and acts"—we refine ourselves and each other. We help each other rise to our highest, most "divine" potential.

How to Fill the Air Today

You don't need to be a philosopher to participate in this grand cosmic function. You can start right where you are:

• Listen to Understand, Not to Reply: The next time someone is speaking to you, give them your undivided attention. Treat their words as a gift.

• Assume Complexity: When someone cuts you off in traffic or answers you sharply, remember that they are fighting battles you know nothing about. Extend grace.

• Speak with Intention: Words have weight. Before you speak, ask yourself if what you are about to say adds beauty to the air or simply adds noise.

We are all walking through this life together. By choosing to see the divine in one another, we not only change how we experience the world—we actually help elevate it.