What is in a Title?

I bet you are wondering what exactly my title (Fractal Fragmentation) means. Well to begin with, I must first make sure you understand what a fractal is. A fractal is typically a geometric figure that when examining a specific part, if you zoom in on the image, you would then be viewing the same image as you were before (which is called Self-Similarity). So, hypothetically, in a perfect fractal you can infinitely fragment a fractal and still have the original image, regardless of the amount of zooming and isolating you perform.

A good basic image to use to illustrate this idea is represented in the Sierpinski Triangle, which is a very easy start for a basic understanding of fractals. I highly suggest if you are unfamiliar with fractals to do a simple internet search for "Sierpinski Triangle" to get an idea of how simple some fractals can be. Another common fractal is the Mandlebrot Fractal, which is coincidentally located at the very top of this blog!

As you begin to have a better understanding of the patterns to look for you should look at more complex images and begin to see the complexity and beauty that are contained within the images. 

Now you are probably noticing that so far all these examples I have mentioned have been computer generated images. But fractals are also common in nature as well, you just have to know where to look. Here is one example, but you have to go out and find more on your own. 

Now to get to the interesting part. As I examine the fractals and consider the self-similarity contained minutely inside the images, I notice the detail, the specificity. These are the same things I notice about the Lord and His creations. First, in His creation, the detail and the specificity that went into the creation of all things reveals the amazing and awesome power of our Lord and Savior. Second, is the way I notice the Lord. I recently started reading "Systematic Theology" by Louis Berkhof, and one of the ideas that it presented was that we can only understand what God has revealed to us about Himself. What I began associating with fractals, was that God, in each of our lives has revealed a very specific fractal that is our life. The more God reveals to us is like zooming in further and further and examining closer the finer points that were designed by Him and created specifically for my fractal. I myself cannot change the fractal that I have, but as I take steps further and further into my life and make choices, it is like me selecting which part of the fractal to zoom in on. But God is always there, He is the one that actually reveals Himself to me, by zooming in to view the next part of the fractal. But here is the catch, as we zoom in, we are not discovering anything new, we are just having what was always there revealed to us.

I find it intriguing and amazing the connections between our lives, creation, and the way the Lord works in us. I hope I was able to hold your attention. If you have any questions feel free to contact me.

Thanks for Reading!

Logan Cullison