LIGHT 3. An earnestly personal, and at times humorous, look at the mutualism between teacher and student, and also the impartation of wisdom that results from embracing Light and Truth. A surprising conversation.
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When we first met
you weren’t at all perturbed
perched there watching
with ‘Wise Eyes’ probing
all my defensive layers…
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Something weird happened as I was staring …
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“Hello human… Why are you staring?”
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“I, uhhh, sorry. I was just taken with how handsome you are; honestly you put most humans to shame.”
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“Humanity? HA… that word that leaves a peculiar aftertaste. You humans love worshipping yourselves, and destroying yourselves, don’t you?”
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“It’s pretty bad. Yeah. I agree. I’m really hoping that you’ll see something different in me though; just like I do you. Besides, I’m having the most peculiar feeling that you’re a creative-intelligent-intuitive-spiritual-thinker.”
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“Stop gushing human. I am what I am; a schmoozer, a philosopher who studies human behavior, who embraces the Light of One Truth, and who loves eating red meat and sleeping.”
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“A Philosopher?”
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“Yes. Aspiring of course. And always dependent on my source.”
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“That’s so weird. I’m a Philosophy/English major; a senior working on my thesis. I’m at an impasse presently; many in the classes are. There are so many questions; so much that doesn’t make sense. Would it be possible to pick your brain?”
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“It’s your nickel pal. But first… that butcher down the way has a delectable rump roast in the window; buy it for me. I’m hungry. After I eat; we’ll see what happens between us. Now… GET THAT MEAT!”
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TWO HOURS LATER
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Cat belched and stretched. “That was quite good. Now I don’t have to think about gnawing on you if you piss me off. Ha-ha. Just kidding. Go ahead. What’s on your mind human?”
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“Light and Shadow: Is there a lesson to be learned in how they coexist?”
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“Hmm… Didn’t expect that; so much to say about it. Couldn’t cover it in 20 conversations. Of course light and shadow presently coexist in the physical realm in myriad shades, shapes, and variables. In certain ways, light and shadow examples a spiritual truth that is in plain sight every day. Light throws shadows to a greater or lesser degree. Shadows are subject to the Light. Unless you’re stuck in a lightless hole, most everywhere you look, day or night, there is light and shadow coexisting in a multifaceted confluence of forms. Adjust your eyes to it; it will amaze you. Let me pose this human: Light and darkness. Good and evil. Wheat and tares. Weeds and flowers; get my drift? Which of them causes others to exist, sustains them, and also exposes them?”
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“Light does. In all variables; Light does. Light gives birth to shadows; weeds and flowers grow because of the light; ignorance and evil are exposed because of the Light. And though none of them can ever lessen or influence the Light; all of them coexist together, and can be perceived daily as symbolic of a dominant spiritual truth. LIGHT exposes something that without the LIGHT cannot be seen?”
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“Yes… Human Beings know evil exists because Light, and a small voice deep inside their soul, allows them to. Run with your ponderings human. There is so much about this to consider, and a wealth of knowledge and wisdom when you discover the answers.”
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“Thank you, Cat. I will. Perhaps you might shed some light on this; it’s a question no one could answer in class:
Can the evanescing abstracts of imagination ever truly represent who an individual is?”
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“That’s a challenging one human. By its very nature imagination is fleeting and abstract. The only way we know it exists is when something tangible is captured and created. Here’s what I’ve come to understand: Unless a creative mind captures the creative stimulus when it comes through, it can easily be lost. More often than not, specific inspiration comes through only once. If you’re serious, you need to grab hold of it, scribble it down, or record it when it’s given. I’ve come to understand that creative expression is initially apprehended in the sensory faculty, and then, as it takes shape and becomes more fluid, it begins to appear as a reflection of something else that is distributed to each individual by what they personally hold as truth spiritually…
In other words: What a person creates exemplifies what they believe.”
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“Sure Cat, that makes sense. So… here’s how I understand it. Creative inspiration for humans originates in the spirit realm, then it’s doled through each individual, who at first perceives it through the sensory faculty, after which, if it’s acted upon and developed, becomes something tangible that (in one way or another) influences those around them.
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“A fine understanding…yes. Develop that.
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“Ok cat… I have several questions. Is there some kind of a ‘key’ to help me better grasp the branching’s of this? Why is there so much pride and fear in humans concerning creativity? And when does one’s woolgathering moment infringe upon another’s sacred creative ground?”
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“Let me quote C. S. Lewis human: “Pride gets no pleasure out of having something, only out of having more of it than the next man. It is the comparison that makes you proud; the pleasure of being above the rest. Once the element of competition is gone, pride is gone.” PRIDE and FEAR. It’s a fickle mix for humans. Invariably a battle ensues in which both, pride and fear, try to overcome the other. And though a proud man can employ a form of humility, sadly most will end up being proud of it. Pride, you see, is concerned with who is right. Humility is concerned with what is right. To your last question: What you create, and what others create, (etc.) are not connected any more than grains of sand on a beach; but they do coexist together. So… let me ask you; what do you think the key is?”
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I think it’s Truth Cat. One Truth. And yes, gifts are freely given at birth with a sacred mandate. But along the way, because most humans are insecure, fearful, arrogant, and want to exploit what they think is theirs in a corrupt world-system, much of what started out as pure, ends up becoming perverted and misused.
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Yes Human. You’ve a good grasp. Now… let me pose several questions for you to mull. I’ve learned that it’s always better when a revelation is personally gleaned instead of being forced. What is observed, prayed about, and then realized through careful consideration and patience, becomes a more permanent part of who you are. Consider, and as I alluded to earlier: at what point does a grain of sand infringe upon another grain of sand? Here’s some questions to mull.
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Is there purpose in humans coexisting so close together?
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And if there is, why then do most live so emotionally and spiritually detached from one another?
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Why do so many in the beginning embrace what they end up separated from as they age?
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You know what it ends up looking like human: Hermits in hovels. Rich men in bubbles. The ‘desperate-for-attention’ on television and YouTube. Kings isolated on mountains. The chronically fearful living in dream-worlds, alienated, afraid, insecure, and all of them desperate for Agape love, understanding, and real wisdom.”
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“Oh my… sometimes Cat, I wonder if my bloodline is cursed. When I think clearly, I realize how little I know. And my stupid questions far surpass any ability I have to answer them. I’m embarrassed at my ignorance.”
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“That old axiom: ‘The more you know the less you know’ becomes abundantly clear as you age human. And your questions aren’t stupid; they’re honest. You’re young. You’re inquisitive. These are good things. Keep asking questions. Enjoy your youth. Enjoy your strength and verve. And the fact that you can acknowledge your ignorance is certainly an enlightened step in the right direction. All you need is the right guide; Light. Light is the key. The Light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. Light will reveal the shadows, and the pitfalls and traps, that so many fall into.”
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“Cat… I’m desperate to rid myself of the war inside my head. Tell me why I am so compelled to fit in, and to be successful in a system that feels so wrong? The direction humanity has taken is foolish, dark, deceptive, and destructive. I wonder; am I outspoken and ambitious because I assume certain elements and forces can’t touch me? Am I inquisitive and bold because of the financial safety-net my parents have given me? Am I afraid of losing the motivation and focus of the wide-eyed child in me?”
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“These are honest questions, human. But you must find the answers to them yourself. I think everyone (to one degree or another) struggles with fear about the ravages of aging, waning creativity, and declining cognition. What I’ve learned, is there is a far-reaching rule that seems to affect every phase of human existence; ‘what a man sows that also shall he reap’. This is true in the physical realm as well as the spiritual realm. And though this is a topic that could never be covered adequately in one conversation, I’ve come to understand fully that the spiritual implications of seedtime and harvest are frightening.
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What can I do Cat?
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Remember this human: you cannot comprehend everything. If you base what you choose to believe on what can be proven, or seen, or touched, you will end up in an intellectual cul-de-sac, where, as senescence grips you, your preoccupation with your own existence will consume you. Does it seem that there’s some higher engineering involved in that?
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It does Cat. It surely does.”
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Ok then… Here’s several things to consider: First and foremost: guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of your life. LIGHT and true Wisdom will save you from the intrigues of obstinate men; from those whose depraved minds and words deceive; evil men who wander from the straight paths to walk in wickedness; who delight in wrong-doing; and who rejoice in the perverseness of evil. For we dare not class ourselves, or compare ourselves, with those who commend themselves. But they, measuring themselves by themselves, and comparing themselves among themselves, are not wise in the least.”
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“Cat… you contend there is something that wars against all of us; whether we embrace the Light or not; and it starts sometime after we reach the age of accountability; when we have the intellectual capacity to understand. Does it have something to do with bloodline? Why, wise teacher, is it so difficult for so many to believe in what they cannot see or touch?”
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“First. Bloodlines are an in-depth discussion for another time. Now. Choosing to believe in the Risen Christ is a leap of faith. Choosing not to believe in the Risen Christ is also a leap of faith. I can tell you this, blessed are those who have never seen Truth yet still believe. Here’s something to think about. “For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities – His eternal power and divine nature – have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that people are without excuse.” Romans 1:20. Yikes! If you choose to believe the Bible; the most influential and popular book in all of humanities existence, you will see something in this verse that is irrefutable. You’ve impressed me human. I’ve learned in my life that all humanity sees regularly through the lens of their own mortal frailties. With inalterable finitude, man contemplates himself in light of himself. But instead of seeking the Creator’s will for their lives, and being satisfied with the wondrous journey that results, man seeks to enshrine himself in Arcanum at the expense of all those other grains of sand around him. Arrogant self-centeredness is destroying the planet.”
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“Thanks so much for sharing with me cat. I’m so glad I met you. I respect you. I’ve learned much. I feel now that I can complete my thesis. Please, tell me teacher, will this world ever be whole again?”
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“First, you’re gushing again human. You’re inquisitive though. I’ll give you that. Someday, very soon, yes, this planet will be made perfectly whole again. But if you believe the Biblical prophecies, which I do, not many will partake of it. You see, the most tremendous and frightening judgement of God in this present world is the hardening of the hearts of men. Arrogant hearts that refuse to see; hearts that become like flint towards the LIGHT and Truth; many will suffer because of it. Know this: there is much that will never be revealed to us in this body of clay. There are many questions that will never be answered; goals that will never be reached….”
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“… Sorry to interrupt cat. My class starts in 30 minutes. Can you give me something I can hold onto?”
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“Ok… Nothing you can think or do will ever change what’s coming, only how you fit into it. Human, as often as you can; sing songs of praise to the Creator of all things. Always purpose to be honorable and find the acceptable good in those around you. Shunning all that is contemptible; purpose to end your gossip and slander, and to speak only those things which convey Light, Love, and Wisdom. Don’t be too hard on yourself when you fall short or fail, because all men have fallen short of the Creator’s glory. Prepare yourself human, everything on this planet is about to change. The snatching away of the Light-filled, and the flooding-in of darkness, is going to usher in the worst tribulation in human history. Embrace the LIGHT and live. See you soon.”
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Smiling; the Cat bounded off and vanished into the terrain.
Richard Lloyd Cederberg
2020
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When I first saw Light capitalized I knew you were referring to Christianity. And then, when you referred to Truth, I was absolutely sure that you are writing about scripture. Scripture certainly helps those having difficulty weathering the inconsistencies in human behavior, but I find absolutes to be dangerous, and often, wrong.
Like the universe, human understanding is evolving. Some cannot stand the process of evolution with its myriad branches branching off, too much knowledge for even the human brain to comprehend. I find peace in not trying so hard to find the answers and learn everything. With the Internet, I can look it up. If I am lazy and make a mistake, it is easy to simply correct the mistake and move on. That's the way life works. We make errors, we correct them, and we move on. Life gets better over time, especially when we meet great challenges that we will face now and in the future.
Ron