The Purpose for Being
He never felt comfortable in the physical world. He knew he was a spiritual being, and his purpose was to show forth love to all that he met: humans, animals, plants, and anything else. His loving kindness was to be an example to show others how to live. It was exhausting. Decade after decade, he tried. He had no idea if he had achieved any success. The impact of his kindness and generosity went out from his actions as ripples on the surface of water. They went in all directions, reaching places he would never go. He tired, then remembered the vital importance of his mission, his reason for being, and would resume. Finally, when he knew the end was near, he summoned those close to him, urged them to carry on. He grew fainter and fainter and finally disappeared in a brilliant burst of unearthly light. He had achieved.
Moonlit Love
The light of the moon was magical. If the person had lived in an earlier time, they knew they would worship the moon. Its light transformed the world. In this time, though, it was known that the moon was rock and the light merely a reflection, but the magic still remained.
Walking through trees, moon shadows cast a new perspective on the world. Now, there were more than three dimensions. There was height, length, and width, but also a quality of mystery, a sense that there was more – more just beyond the senses; a beckoning to a world beyond the physical, a depth not evident in sunlight, a realm of possibilities. Just another step further, and the unknown awaits.
How will this “Other” be similar to the known world? How will it be different? It would have to be different altogether. But how, what?
Come. Let’s go!
The Lesson of Flowers
Flowers say: “Joy!” Their brilliant colors are an attraction and bring delight to the eye. Who can look at flowers and frown or be angry? Not only is each blossom colorful in its own right, but together, the mass of colors of many flowers is a riot of joy. How could it be possible for so much color to be together in whatever small space the flowers are in? The more the colors contrast, the more attractive they are together. The beauty of the colors of flowers is a lesson to humanity. Since flowers of all colors are beautiful, so also are humans of all colors beautiful together. Our colors are just one of our adornments. We have many. We can appreciate those adornments, not hate or fight each other because of them. Flowers don’t fight to kill each other; why should we? We can learn a lot from flowers.
Allegory Tale
Trent looked out the door. The scene looked hopeless. The material city lay in ruins; the devastation was complete. Egos had clashed and lost; vanity had imploded from its own weight and arrogance. Human pride had taken a fall.
“Now that it’s gone,” he thought with relief. “We can start over.”
With illusion destroyed, a new civilization based on harmony and cooperation could begin. This time, every person was welcomed, and each one was valued. All were encouraged to contribute, and the result was far more advantageous to everyone than anyone had experienced before. No one had status over anyone else, and all participated. Each voice contributed and was valued in making decisions. It truly was of the people, by the people, for the people. Everyone thrived.
It was not easy, nor simple, but was eventually accomplished. Humans became the powerful, spiritual beings they had always had the potential to be.
Wondering Child
My older sister sits in the front seat holding the baby, smugness written all over her face. Margina gets to sit there now that the baby is born. Before that, she had to take turns with me. Mother says she wants the baby up front where she can keep an eye on her, and only Margina can hold her safely.
The twins are next to me, but not still. I try to ignore the jabs, bumps, and shoves; I MUST ignore them. If I respond, they’ll yell at me, and Mother will scream at me for tormenting them. She never believes they’re the cause.
I’m so tired of being picked on.
If I was sitting on the other side of the car, where the ditch is, and fall out – would she stop and be nice to me if I get hurt? Would she care about me then? Can I…
Neighbors Daycare
My neighbors run a daycare of some kind. Sometimes I see the two women (mother and daughter, or lovers?) who live there. We’ve spoken politely, but that’s all. They have three children of their own, and at certain times in the early mornings and afternoons (after school?), they are outside playing, often with other children. I’m not trying to spy, and don’t see them every day, but they must have a high turnover because the other children are often different from day to day.
The children are happy and talk and play with each other; I never dreamed they might be trafficked for sex. When police showed up and escorted everyone away, I began to wonder.
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Duane was first featured in 2020 and then again in 2022. You can find his work published on TSI by clicking HERE. Herrmann has published a sci-fi novel, eight poetry books, history, short stories, and more. He has carried kittens in his mouth, pet snakes, and conversed with owls, careful not to anger them! All despite a traumatic, abusive childhood, dyslexia, ADHD, cyclothymia, a form of Mutism, anxiety disorder, and PTSD.
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