99.9% of my DNA is identical to the DNA of all other people and 99% of my DNA is the same as the DNA of other vertebrae. Part of the 1% that differentiates us from animals contains the instructions for building a brain: the biggest miracle between dust and dust. Think about it !
When playing tennis, my brain perceives in a few milliseconds speed, position and angle of the ball coming towards me and extrapolates where the ball will be a few milliseconds later. In a few more milliseconds this information is translated into signals to all my muscles so that my racquet hits and returns the ball to the desired spot. My conscious brain would need many hours and mastery of many formulas relating speed, position, mass and angle to calculate how to return the ball.
Sounds make hairs in our ears vibrate. Toddlers learn to differentiate and remember signals from these vibrating hairs and learn to associate these signals with concepts. These concepts trigger other concepts and the kid responds by sending signals its vocal cords to produce sounds that stand for concepts. A sequence of miraculous transformations.
Every cell in our body contains all the information needed to build our body. Doctors 'know' less than a single cell in their body. On the other hand, doctors can apply their limited knowledge in ways that surpass the knowledge contained in their cells.
The brain is a social organ. Just as eyes need visual input to develop, brains need interaction (language, empathy, ... ) to grow. A brain cannot develop on its own; it needs the input from other brains.
Neurobiology analyzes brain processes and finds hierarchical structures: reptilian, mammal, and human brain structures. Simple emotions are the building blocks of complex feelings. Simple concepts build more complex concepts.
When we learn, we change our brain. The brain changes itself by its own volition. Like our intestines process food, our brain processes molecular connections which represent thoughts and feelings.
Kids asks “Why?”, all the time. Why do they ask? The desire and the ability to understand is miraculous in itself. What does “understand” mean? Comprehension is the biggest mystery. Miracles as reported in the Bible are silly in comparison.
“We were born from dust; to dust we return". That is not depressing. What could be more exciting than going from dust via consciousness to dust? All adventure pales in comparison with the excitement of being aware. Awareness is the ultimate miracle.