Hi there! My name is Alan – husband, dad, Christian, and programmer from West Texas.
Why “Inquiring Life”?
While I fail more often than not, I strive to live in a state of awe and to inquire about all aspects of life. The sheer fact that anything exists at all – that there is something rather than nothing – has absolutely blown my mind (seriously, my brain kind of breaks if I think about it for too long) for as long as I can remember. I don’t just want to collect facts and knowledge; I want to cultivate wisdom, an appreciation for beauty and mystery, and a deeper understanding of the truths woven into the fabric of the universe we inhabit. And, importantly, I stumbled upon the .life domain extension and wanted to come up with a fun way to put it to good use.
My interests are quite varied. I find technology fascinating; I have been especially captivated recent developments in artificial intelligence, robotics, and automation. When I read, it’s often about theology or philosophy, although I enjoy a good sci-fi novel, too. Music is another deep, longstanding interest of mine, and I love exploring song meanings, even those that deviate from what the musician intended (C.S. Lewis’ argument for “poetry without a poet” resonates with me).
Demographics, geography, and maps in general are also a source of endless enjoyment for me. Maps are cool! I can spend hours exploring on Google Maps, looking up demographics, history, and trivia on various cities, countries, and administrative divisions… some have kindly suggested that I may be “on the spectrum”, although my official OCD diagnosis may just mean that I have a tendency to be a bit obsessive.
I decided to start this blog for a few reasons. Primarily, I’m writing this for myself (selfish – I know!), as a way to explore ideas more structured manner, forcing me to think more deeply and refine my thoughts over time. That being said, I hope the process of recording my thoughts in a slightly polished, presentable way will make them beneficial, enjoyable, or at least mildly amusing to a few others along the way.
On AI use; I collaborate heavily with AI tools – to brainstorm, to refine readability and clarity, and to challenge my thinking. I also use AI-generated art for visual appeal, but always in a way that’s intentional, shaping the prompts and resulting output to match the tone and message of each post. That said, I won’t just “copy and paste” pure AI-generated text here unless I explicitly indicate that I’m quoting an AI response. The posts here are mine. Just as a book isn’t any less valuable because its author relied on an editor, colleagues, or friends to refine their ideas, I hope you’ll still find value in my thoughts, even as I work closely with AI to flesh them out.
On Errors; I will do my best to cite sources and post true and factual information. While I can commit to never intentionally publish false or misleading posts, I can also promise that I will make mistakes. I am not an expert in theology, philosophy, or really anything for that matter. With that in mind, I encourage you to do your own research and come to your own conclusions. My hope is that my writing can serve as a worthwhile jumping off point, not a final word on anything.
In closing, I’m excited about the opportunities this blog presents as I explore a wide array of topics. I hope to reach far back into ancient history and peer into the future as we, as a species, stand on the precipice of the Singularity and whatever lies beyond. I want to look deeply within myself – to better understand who I am, what it means to be human, and what glimpses of God can be seen from our limited vantage point.
At it’s core, my goal is to think deeply about things that matter, in ways that will help me grow into a better person. Knowledge and wisdom are important, but above all, I hope to grow in love.
Need to get in touch? You can reach me via email at alan@inquiring.life – I may or may not respond, but I always appreciate thoughtful input.