Riddle of the World
We live in a time of much confusion. Politically, we are split down the middle. We are asked to decide between conservative and liberal positions. My question is, "Why don't we just do what best serves our fellow human beings?"
The wealth continues to migrate toward the elite in this country. The old saying still holds true; "The rich get richer and the poor get poorer." My question is, "Why do we continue to feed the rich when the poor are hungry?
We worry about sexual preference. Seperating the straights from the gays seems to be the choice of many. The eternal question is, "Who is straight and who is gay?" My question is, "Why does it matter?"
That brings us to theological concerns. Everybody seems to know the true nature of God. We have spent millennia discussing the question, "Who is God?" Yet as mere mortals, we have no idea who or what God is. Perhaps we could better spend our time loving our brothers and sisters, including those we deem to be our enemies, rather than putting God in a box. My question is, "Why don't we just let God be God?"
This evening I came across the following poem by Alexander Pope that says exactly this. Think about it! He just may be right (Oops, I mean "correct.")
- The Old Professor
Copyright © Jay D Weaver - July 24, 2004
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Who am I? Who is God?
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Riddle of the World
Know then thyself, presume not God to scan,
The proper study of Mankind is Man.
Plac'd on this isthmus of a middle state,
A Being darkly wise, and rudely great:
With too much knowledge for the Sceptic side,
With too much weakness for the Stoic's pride,
He hangs between; in doubt to act, or rest;
In doubt to deem himself a God, or Beast;
In doubt his Mind or Body to prefer;
Born but to die, and reas'ning but to err;
Alike in ignorance, his reason such,
Whether he thinks too little, or too much:
Chaos of Thought and Passion, all confus'd;
Still by himself abus' d, or disabus'd;
Created half to rise, and half to fall;
Great Lord of all things, yet a prey to all;
Sole judge of truth, in endless error hurl'd:
The glory, jest, and riddle of the world!
- Alexander Pope
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