Neither do men light a candle and put it under a bushel


© Arthur C. Ruger

How shall I go in peace and without sorrow? Nay, not without a wound in the spirit shall I leave this city.

Too many fragments of the spirit have I scattered in these streets, and too many are the children of my longing that walk naked among these hills, and I cannot withdraw from them without a burden and an ache.

It is not a garment I cast off this day, but a skin that I tear with my own hands. Yet I cannot tarry longer. The sea that calls all things to her calls me, and I must embark.

If this is the day of harvest, in what fields have I sowed the seed, and in what unremembered seasons? If this indeed by the hour in which I lift up my lantern, is it not my flame that shall burn therein. - The Prophet, Kahlil Gibran.

There always comes a time, it seems, when moving on seems the right thing to do.

... When discernment prompts a greater giving of time and effort to a cause worthy of pursuit.

I've spent the past three and a half years here in a experience of creation and change. I've resided here in an incubator of giving words to my yearning to express deepest thoughts and concerns. For me Suite has served well as the incubator.

I came to Suite101.com as a feature writer in February of 2002. My first three months' "hits" statistics were 3, 18 and 1 respectively. The yet-to-be-crystallized hermeneutic of advocacy for Liberal Christianity and Jesus' God of Compassion was not yet fully formed.

More prompted by the early writings of Bishop John Shelby Spong, I felt driven by a need to justify his concepts and add my voice to the protest against radical fundamentalist literalism and the seeming rise of a an agitation - as I having written many times - to attempt living and moving forward by restricting our attention to the rear-view mirror.

In the intervening years, my view has adjusted - heavily influenced not by my own writings - but by the views and opinions of others here for each of whom I have a great respect and regard.

Although my view has adjusted itself more readily to the reality and psychology of belief, my perspective has not changed. It feels to me, however, a wiser and more tolerant acceptance of views that oppose my own as well as an understanding that those with whom I agree and disagree each have their own light and own hill upon which to place it.

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Here's the follow-up discussion on this article: View all related messages

5.   Oct 25, 2005 10:18 AM
In response to Excellent Writing posted by spiritalk:


Thanks for this post. What I see in your writings and my own is what ...


-- posted by ArthurRuger


4.   Oct 25, 2005 10:17 AM
In response to Snuff It Out posted by Pinky102:

There is always life after death ... those left behind must move on from the ...


-- posted by ArthurRuger


3.   Oct 24, 2005 11:33 AM
In response to Excellent Writing posted by spiritalk:

"Yes, there is an afterlife. Be it what any one of us sees or not.. ...


-- posted by Pinky102


2.   Oct 24, 2005 8:00 AM
written from the heart. I particularly like the expression that all writing comes from our own experiences. If we apply this to the posters comments as well...maybe we could begin to understand one ...

-- posted by spiritalk


1.   Oct 24, 2005 7:22 AM
Well written(said), Arthur.
"Out, out, brief candle! Life's but a walking shadow, a poor player That struts and frets his hour upon the stage and then is heard no more. It is a tale Told by ...

-- posted by Pinky102





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