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Writer's picturefatheratchley

Journal of a Soul


Helpful definition--Shibboleth: [noun] a word or saying used by adherents of a party, sect, or belief and usually regarded by others as empty of real meaning. A widely held belief, truism, platitude.


By Fr. Jon Atchley

With wanderlust I set apart the things that I would need,

Knife, blanket, water, matches, and a packet full of seed.

Then left I all I knew behind, and carried out the deed.

Goodbyes I made with my family, sad friends, cat and dog,

Then I stepped out into the mist, hoping to leave the fog

That clouded menā€™s minds who tried to think their own monologue.

No more disambiguation or things like ā€œproperā€ speech:

Politically correct nonsense that schools like to teach;

Give me truth or give me death if I never make my breach.

I sifted through the sands of time, I waded marshes damp,

Crossed countries I never knew looking for places to camp,

Under the heat of midday sun until my feet would cramp.

Like a whale Iā€™d submerge, then swim a while and stop for breath,

At port my hope was to evade the "popular" shibboleth;

Yet folks I would encounter only knew cerebral death.

Where was the quest that life did pose? What couldnā€™t people see?

Why did I seem the only one who thought for them and me?

Was I doomed to fail to find goodness, wisdom or beauty?

Then sat me down, and with a frown, began to pray to God,

ā€œLord, if you still hear our prayers, have pity on this poor sod.

Help me land where folk are true, where free thoughts are not outlawed.ā€

Thus burrowed in, with fire lit, I waited just to see,

What my adventure really brought me, pain or ecstasy:

And there Iā€™d stay a month, a year, a lifetime if need be.

When wondrous lo! I did behold an angel from above,

Who came and talked a while with me of things like hope and love.

And shared we thus many thoughts this world seemed deprived of.

Then stood my angel guest to hold my hand,ā€˜twas time to leave,

He said, quietly, ā€œknow things can be done you canā€™t conceive.

All that you have to really do is trust God and believe.ā€

Before up he shot, like a rocket hot, also did he say,

ā€œRemember to plant your seed of faith, do so every day.ā€

Midst parted clouds he quickly flew; I knew he couldnā€™t stay.

Retracing, then, all my steps, I tried to help people see,

Truth, beauty, goodness--all lie within one reality,

We need not shield our thoughts because weā€™re worried who to be.

Sometimes we need to leave behind a bit, to get a better view:

Why worry what others think? Itā€™ll only make you stew.

Be sure to plant the seed to growā€”thereā€™s only one of you!

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