I randomly clicked on a video explanation of the thermodynamic concept of “entropy” by Brian Cox. In it, he is sitting on a sand dune type local, an abandoned, weather-worn house as the backdrop—both concretely and symbolically.

I randomly watched my two toddlers play with (generally “break” would be more the appropriate description) their unseemly number of toys—unseemly as I never wanted to turn my children into spoiled brats and so am not sure how it came to this.

Did I just repeat myself?

Spiritual truths, such as entropy, take nothing more than observation, certainly not formal education.

Brian who? An on-location TV special is necessary which explains what any father knows?

The real question, the remaining question, of course, is when (if ever) do humans stop destroying everything they touch?

The answer: some combination of—

1. The advent of written language.

2. Writing down observations that can be confirmed.

3. Writing down laws—with the express purpose of sticking to the spirit of the law, if not the letter.

Bear in mind, fellow fathers, entire civilizations have never avoided entropy.

So let’s get to work.