Our Planet Gem, Core Values, family, trees, and artigenuity
Darby & Sharon Checketts
With Love. This is our new Faith & Family website as we humans experience social unrest, economic upheaval, disruptive politics, wars, runaway social media, and the threatening (though also promising) rise of Artificial Intelligence.
Existential Threats. A close friend of mine recently discussed with me our concerns about the news that Artificial Intelligence might go rogue and wipe out human civilization in ten years. Why would this happen? Perhaps computers determine that humans are not doing such a good job of "keeping things together" these days. Or a rogue ruler or sinister faction of society is threatening to make the ultimate power grab.
What Is the Answer? It is time that we humans think more Celestial and less computational about our lives on this PLANET GEM we call earth.
Patriotic Parents. Existential is a fancy word to explain things that have a pervasive and powerful influence on our existence. I was born at the end of World War II wherein my courageous parents served our nation. My dad was a cargo pilot in the China-Burma-India theater of the war. He flew over a hundred treacherous missions across the Himalaya Mountains. I used to watch a movie with them called, "God Is My Co-Pilot." The "Cold War" that followed was about conflict with the Soviet Union including the existential threat of nuclear war. We had visions of some nation going rogue to push that big red button that would launch an ICBM or Intercontinental Ballistic Missile. Sharon and I remember fire and bomb drills at school where we crawled under our desks for protection. We have survived. We're still here at 81 years.
To Safeguard Humanity as the Tide of Technology Rises. And now we have the new existential threat that some Artificial Intelligence entity might go rogue and destroy our civilization perhaps by an electrical blackout and the electronic corruption of access to so many things we rely upon and take for-granted.
More Powerful than Artificial Intelligence. We must look to a higher, smarter, more powerful resource than computer technology. This website was originally created to serve the organizational clients of our family business. After I retired, it transitioned into a family website as my voice in the world. What is my priority message to our world family? Spend more time looking heavenward and less time looking down into the palms of your hands at those tiny, shiny devices that can be so helpful and so distracting.
Where Is the Real Power? Look at the trees, the billowing clouds in the blue sky, the flowers in your garden, the smiling face of a toddler, the loving face of your grandmother. Be amazed at the microchip in your cellphone and then watch a micro-honeybee navigate from flower to flower gathering the sweetest of treats that delight humans. There are those who discount God's existence and power as mythological. I've had individuals scoff at me and ask, "How can God answer the prayers of eight billion people?" I understand that a man-made supercomputer can process at over 10 FLOPS (one exaflop = a quintillion calculations per second). I am sure a Celestial Being with universally creative power can handle a few billion prayers. A Celestial Net connects us spiritually in ways that transcend the awesomeness of the Internet and GPS.
In Answer to AI Fears... I recently walked through Hobby Lobby, my favorite store, and glimpsed the small plaque that now appears as our website masthead. I have purchased nine of these as Christmas gifts for family members. It reads: "His Eye Is on the Sparrow, and I Know He Watches Me." As I read, I decided that I shall not fear. The plaque's message is based on Jesus Christ's teaching in Matthew 10:29-31 and the inspirational lyrics by Civilla D. Martin written in 1905.
The Trustworthiness of Trees. Why did I call our website "The Tree Roost'? Birds fly to the lofty branches of trees to gain a broader perspective on our world. Our broader perspective tells us that it is time to focus our faith on the premises and promises of a force far more powerful than Artificial Intelligence. AI is, after all, man-made and only "artificial." And why do I write about trees? These are the royalty of our earth's Plant Kingdom. These are so abundant, authentic, dependable...and so beneficial to humankind. I go to the forest to find solace and to remind myself of all that God has created for us that He will ultimately protect for us--even enhance one day. Consider the full meaning of "family tree" as one of humanity's most familiar and meaningful metaphors. We must safeguard our family trees!
Our Planet Gem: Core Values to the Rescue. With the rise of technology, we hope that AI will enrich and not engulf us. I propose a new mindset, which is "ARTIGENUITY." I have recently written a candid, yet optimistic commentary on this subject. It addresses the rockslides and the strongholds of life on our planet; and includes an autobiographical section that expands on Darby & Sharon's family values and the underlying principles of faith that guide us. The book is available at Amazon.com: OUR PLANET GEM: Core Values to the Rescue.
Our Story
Darby & Sharon Checketts - Life's Adventures
After Darby's corporate career, we established our consulting business. We were blessed with a houseful of dynamic and dependable children. These are the joy of our lives. Eventually, Darby authored several business books for his clients. These include Customer Astonishment and Positive Conflict. We spent eight years supporting financially disadvantaged college students in the Salt Lake City area. As our children left the family nest, we took to the highway across the natural wonderland that is Utah. We wrote The Utah Cure (2017) to help readers discover the rejuvenating, and inspirational effects of being in the great outdoors. It is about 40 magical destinations among the forests and canyons of Utah where we love to go as a family. Discover Darby's book: Forest Is The Tree Word for Family. And there is a children's book: Jubilant June: The Juniper Tree. Most of Darby's 20 books are available at Amazon.com...or please contact us.