Skip to main content

Diogenes

The light of truth
Shines in your eyes
You look for something
You may never realize

The search goes on
For an honest one
The light within
Shines like the sun

With lamp held high
You search the streets
Looking wistfully
At all you meet

But all is deception
All is false
All is emptiness
Doors, windows, halls

And then, like a dove
You see the light
Like a sunrise breaking
After a desperate night

The truth is clear
The way laid before
What must be done
And whom it is for

The shining glorious light
Ends the long, dark night
And there is no need to fight
What you know to be right
It's there in your sight
Reaching all depths and heights
Your shining armored knight
Whose glory is radiant and bright
All dressed in white

The end of the plight
The end of the blight
The beginning of delight

Comments

Melodie7 said…
Fantastic. Beautiful. Amazing. :)
Bill Cobabe said…
I'm glad you liked it, M7... :-)

Diogenes, as I'm sure you'll remember, was the Greek philosopher who walked the streets looking for an honest man. He carried his lantern lit - even in the daytime - to assist in his search.

Actually, his search was for a human - any human. He was cynical and felt that men were not really much better than animals, given to appetites and passions. Modern people don't like the fact that he couldn't even find a "human" so they added the honest part. But I think it's telling that he couldn't find anyone worthy to be called a "human" at all... The word "cynic" comes from the Greek word for dog, reflecting Diogenes' idea that men are basically worse than dogs, untrustworthy, false, and greedy.

Not all men are like that. Just most. :-)
Melodie said…
Thank goodness I'm not jaded. I still know there are good men out there... but try telling that to all my single friends. LOL :)
Bill Cobabe said…
LOL!

Well, the story is that Diogenes never did find an honest man. Or a human... He's usually depicted in the company of a dog because that's the best he could find.

Popular posts from this blog

Baptism

Yesterday Ellie was baptized. She turned eight on January 27, 2020, and she made the decision to be baptized. I want to tell you a little bit about Ellie. I have never met a child that is quite like Ellie. She is full of life and fire and joy and light. She knows no fear and is infectious in her passion for life and for goodness and for FUN!!! Above all things, she seeks the joy and fun in life. She is also wickedly clever and funny, she’s a delight to be around and makes everyone feel so good. Because she is happy, she wants everyone else to be happy. I first met sweet Elizabeth in 2018, and on the day I met her she was not feeling well. We decided that a movie would be a fun thing for a sick little girl, so I brought one of my favorites to share with her - The Neverending Story. When I got to the house, I picked her right up. It had been a very long time since I was able to pick up a girl, and she snuggled right into my arms. Her poor sick body was warm, but I was more impressed ...

Excommunication

My heart is heavy this morning. I read that Kate Kelly and others are being brought up on Church disciplinary action. For those who are unfamiliar with the process/proceedings of LDS Church discipline, it can be a bit mystifying. There are several levels of censure that the Church may impose. These range from a simple removal of some privileges for a short period of time to the most severe action - excommunication. When one is excommunicated, the person's membership in the Church is terminated. It is a very extreme measure, and for the faithful it can be a very difficult thing to consider. What people don't understand - what is nearly impossible for someone outside the proceedings to understand - is the amount of love felt. It's discipline. It's intended to be harsh (at times). And it's intended to be unpleasant. But it is done with love and care for the person. Since excommunication is such an extreme measure, it is really only very rarely applied. There are ...

Ephesus

Paul got around. Ephesus is right on the Aegean Sea, on the coast of present-day Turkey. Yesterday he was in Galatia, which was much more towards the middle of Turkey. And when he actually wrote these letters, he was in Rome... So the man could travel. He probably walked. Today's item of interest comes from chapter one in Ephesians. Verses 18 and 19 are particularly interesting: 18 The eyes of your understanding being enlightened; that ye may know what is the hope of his calling and what the riches of the glory of his inheritance in the saints, 19 And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power This is not the first time Paul talks about an inheritance. In Galatians he talks about the inheritance that comes of being part of the Abrahamic Covenant. He notes that we are joint-heirs through and with Christ. In Ephesians, he uses the word "adoption" - that we are adopted as the Children of Jesus Chris...