Two thousand years ago a man walked upon the shore of an inland sea
Tall and of red beard and hair, and of noble bearing;
Yet there was much more than this which set Him apart from all others.

And as He walked He came upon a boat, resting upon the beach
wherein sat two fishermen mending their nets.
And He called to them saying, “Come follow me, and I will make you fishers of men.”
And straightway they laid down their nets and followed.

What kind of courage was this that could cause these two
men to follow this unknown stranger?
Perhaps the answer to this was in the hearts of these two men.
Perhaps it was an inward knowing that superseded any material
desires or instincts to remain with the known things of their life.

And as they followed the day quickly came when they
were vindicated in this apparent madness
And they saw many miracles wrought and great Truths spoken.

And there were others too, who likewise followed, and saw – and heard.
And many fell by the wayside, for they could not meet the one simple
requirement which must be fully met with – to give freely of themselves.

And of the Twelve who remained and gave of themselves yet there was even
one among these few who would soon sell himself
and the others for thirty pieces of silver.
And for this in his great sorrow he would hang himself on the thorn tree.

What great paradox is this, what great mystery that it is,
that always men must turn upon those who love them the most?
How often it is that those Great Souls from the Higher planes
have asked Themselves this same question.
Yet surely They must know the answer – for indeed it is,
Theirs’ is a never-ending quest

To seek goodness and virtue among men in these earthly worlds
And in this quest, finding one and then another who has goodness and virtue
And can give freely of himself – for there in this mystery lies an answer
Sought by all yet found by so few, yes, even after thousands of years
of turmoil and strife among themselves and with their selves
They come not upon the answer; and their cries of despair
are heard in the higher places.

So again it is that a White Winged Messenger brings one small flame
of Light to lead these few from out their darkness
For in the Infinite Mind all things have been conceived,
And in this conception the fruit of Wisdom
is always borne from out the womb of time
Wherein all men suffer until the day of their delivery.

How great it is to know of this Light and this Fruit and to know of Him
who brings it forth into the darkened regions of these earthly worlds.
Yet greater even it is to hold this same Light; even tho those He
came to help would set upon Him like ravening beasts
For as each man is born, truly it is that he
liveth not until he liveth for all men.

by Ernest L. Norman

Excerpt from The Anthenium