There was an occasion once a while back where in talking with friends without technical background that the concept of imaginary numbers came up. I don't remember the context of it, but I remember that in commenting about the usefulness of imaginary numbers, I mentioned something to the effect that, "they make the world go round."

A lot of times when people question the usefulness of engineering, I put forth the consideration that practically everything around them is engineered. Sure it is easy to point out obvious products of engineering such as planes, cars, space shuttles, etc. But if you stop to think a little bit more, you'll realize that the shirt you're wearing was manufactured in a facility that had machinery to produce the fabrics, perform silk-screening, etc. The jewelery you are wearing is made of precious metals that had to be mined using engineering know-how for both tools and safe tunneling. The sandwich that you ate for lunch had bread that was produced in a bakery that used an oven that was specially designed to bake your bread in a semi-efficient manner. The list goes on.

In modern society, practically every industry hinges on or makes use of engineered solutions.

The very fact that you are capable of reading my post right now is thanks to the efforts of countless electrical, civil, mechanical, computer, environmental, chemical and systems engineers. (No the internet wasn't just built by comp-sci people - think of the infrastructure).

Yet amongst all of this engineered "stuff," I was humbly brought to Palm Sunday. I attended Elevation this past Sunday, and for the worship service, they had kids pass out palm branches. As I sat holding the palm branch, I store at it for a bit. And suddenly appreciated the beauty of this simple plant. I was holding something that wasn't engineered. Sure the bio-engineer and chemical engineer might argue that we now have the ability to breed plants, modify their genetics, etc. But that's exactly what it is - modifying.

We cannot create nature or life. And despite all of our advanced engineering know how, we would still die if we were not already provided with the things we need to live. If we had no water, could the chemical engineer synthesize enough H₂O for the planet to survive? But what if the chemical engineer didn't have 2 H's and an O? Could the physicist put enough electrons, neutrons and protons together to make enough H's and O's for the chemist?

Similarly, could the civil engineer build a bridge if not already given concrete for compression and steel rods for tension? Could the concrete and steel be made without the raw materials found within the earth?

Could the electrical engineer connect your phone call through a cellular network without the electromagnetic spectrum?

Everything is built upon the life already given to us using the creativity already given to us.

And so I appreciated the plant for what it is. A product of something that I could not engineer.

Then the Lord answered Job out of the storm. He said:

"Who is this that darkens my counsel
     with words without knowledge?
Brace yourself like a man;
     I will question you,
     and you shall answer me.

"Where were you when I laid the earth's foundation?
     Tell me, if you understand.
Who marked off its dimension? Surely, you know
     Who stretched a measuring line across it?
On what were its footings set,
     or who laid its cornerstone -
while the morning stars sang together
     and all the angels shouted for joy?

"Who shut up the sea behind the doors
     when it burst forth from the womb,
when I made the clouds its garment
     and wrapped it in the thick darkness,
when I fixed limits for it
     and set its doors and bars in place,
when I said, 'This far you may come and no farther;
     here is where your proud waves halt'?

...

"What is the way to the abode of light?
     And where does darkness reside?
Can you take them to their places?
     Do you know the paths to their dwellings?
Surely you know, for you were already born!
     You have lived so many years!"

...

The Job replied to the Lord:

"I know that you can do all things;
     no plan of yours can be thwarted.
You asked, 'Who is this that obscures my counsel without knowledge?'
     Surely I spoke of things I did not understand,
     things too wonderful for me to know.

"You said, 'Listen now, and I will speak;
     I will question you
     and you shall answer me.'
My ears have heard of you
     but now my eyes have seen you.
Therefore I despise myself
     and repent in dust and ashes."