Voice in the Wilderness*

Voice In The Wilderness

A group of men got together to start an organization. The biggest bully becomes second-in-command, the President has some brains and can be counted on to deliver respectability. The Board of Directors is made up of weak willed individuals kept in line with the illusion of holding secrets of perceived power overseen by the Chairman - the bully who actually runs the whole show.

The minions who dutifully show up to pay their dues, give support and browbeat any dissidence in the group always thirst for more - More Inner Secrets, More Prestige for the club, More Sense of Belonging. They follow without critical judgement and when contradictions occur they bray, "Four legs good, two legs bad." Once a member wanted to do "The Right Thing" and they looked at the bully-in-charge and saw a character to be assassinated. They did it gleefully, but some were concerned. Something didn't seem kosher.

The desert awaited, a lonely existence needing constant inner fortitude developed for the exile. He waited and although what was proposed was quickly registered as true, his original announcement was declared "personally ambitious" and the group decided all things. The club didn't worry about the one missing member.

Messages began to appear calling for help. The bully-in-charge and his weak willed followers were mistreating more members. Most left quietly, feigning fidelity backing out the door, but not participating. Bullies-in-waiting saw a chance for advancement. The weak willed followers were confused. Control of the money was questioned. The President churned out more ideas that went over the head of the club. He started to act like he was the Leader. The bully-in-charge saw what the problem was - subversion from the desert source. 

He didn't want to be bothered, continuing his meditations and study. The club struggled with declining membership and internal bickering. Every once in while, without his knowledge, his stand was reconsidered and put away again with derision. And each time he got another questioner of the power structure. While he went and stayed away, the nagging righteousness remained.

Charitable events run in the past became fishing tournaments. Camaraderie became drunken events. Gossip ruled the day and stories of missing members became more outrageous. The bully-in-charge took it all in, seeing all working fine, all problems external in nature. Recruitment was of the underachiever and misfit. The club reputation took a hit when the President left. His replacement was Minor bully-in-charge, disciple. No one respected him, but played like they did. Leaving the sense of belonging was too much for the loyal stalwarts and they would have followed anyone. 

Reactionary thinking was the only order of the day. Alternative thinking, challenging ideas were ridiculed. Respect was only for a certain few, ironically, the source of most of their problems was expected to be respected as well. It took work to think, it took physical appearance to dutifully follow, nothing more.

The Exiled One never returned. He learned the the political life is unrewarding, unappreciative and soul tormenting. Somewhere over the years his life meaning became more important than shoring up a system of recycled meanness. There were others that found him and learned the same message. There is no peace without internal, personal peace first. Secrets are only yours. Power is the ability to survive in a caring, loving way. Intelligence doesn't mean useful ability. The desert holds many mysteries.