Remember The Lost
In Shadow
Shadows are wonderful and strange things. The tiny human being who discovers it for the very first time has found a mysterious friend who plays hide and seek in the light and dark, suffering from Peter Pan envy. It is the unlit sibling to the reflection and the refracted rainbows that dance on the wall. It is the traveling companion of the gaily bedighted knight on his way to Eldorado.
The dark mystery of the shadow deepens, for its looming presence can be stifling. This shadow falls on the heart as hope diminishes, Eldorado falling further away with every approaching step. When darkness falls in darkness, it smothers, scattering gloom deep as Dickens’ last spirit.
The knight addresses the figure seeking answers, not of “why” as in “why this cloud of unknowing,” (why is this happening to me?) but “where can it be, this land of Eldorado?” One can imagine how the hooded and unseen face of depression is taken by surprise. The answer echoes from the darkness, compelled by the insatiable desire to know. An inky finger protrudes, pointing the way: boldly look where you would never expect—“over the mountains of the moon, and down the valley of shadow, Ride, boldly ride.”
“Home is behind the world ahead
And there are many paths to tread
Through shadow to the edge of night
Until the stars are all alight.
Mist and shadow
Cloud and shade
All shall fade
All shall fade”
(Pippin’s Song)
Popular posts from this blog
The Smooth-flowing Life
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel
A Reflection in Plato’s “Republic” Book 2
Early in Book 2 of Plato’s “Republic,” the discussion turns into the story of a man named Gyges who finds a ring that makes him invisible. Using the powers of the ring, he reports to the court of his king, seduces the queen “and with her help conspired against the king and slew him, and took the kingdom.” What would happen if there were two rings, one worn by an unjust man and the other by a just man? The story attempts to make the case that a just man will act unjustly if given the opportunity to think he is doing right, if only by himself. But what if he doesn’t? What if there was no ring, and what if there was a perfectly unjust man and a perfectly just man and both had everything they needed in life? The unjust man must cover his steps in order to be distinguished and succeed. In the eyes of others, he appears to be just. But what about the just man, who appears to be unjust? “They will tell you that the just man who is thought unjust will be scourged, racked, bound-will have hi
Three New Additions To My Desk
Actually, it’s an ad-duck-tion. I missed the perfect opportunity to say, “and they’re in a row, too!” Silly goose.