From WISDOM to PEACE ON EARTH
Thursday, January 15, 2015
Oh, WISDOM,
Where Art Thou?
By
Francis William Bessler
Laramie, Wyoming
1/15/2015
A Review of
My Philosophical Stories
- A Lost Beginning -
This is somewhat of a story about a story teller - such as it is. I have been writing for over 50 years. Most of what I have written has been in the form of an essay or a song; but I have told a few philosophical type stories too. This is to explain myself about that.
I have long loved reading stories; and perhaps beginning with the stories of the Old Testament and New Testament of the Christian BIBLE, I learned at a very young age that a story is a very good way to tell a tale by which a reader should learn a certain moral. So I found myself very interested in tales of the BIBLE at a very young age because I saw in those stories a tale of morality.
Now many would argue that the tales in the BIBLE are not intended to be "tales of morality" as much as "revelations of morality." Well, I won't go into that here, but I will address the issue in a forthcoming essay I plan to write about that subject that I intend to call REVELATIONS & INTERPRETATIONS. I may change the title when I sit down to write it, but I will be addressing the issue of claimed tales as being "revelations of morality" rather than just "tales of morality." Standby for that discussion, if you wish - probably in March of 2015.
Anyway, at a very early age I was taken by the many "tales of morality" as found in the Christian BIBLE. I was impressed; and partly because of that being impressed by such story telling, in my third year of college at St. Thomas Seminary in Denver, Colorado - and first year of philosophy as a student for the ministry of the Catholic Church - I decided to give it a whirl myself.
So in the privacy of my little quarters at St. Thomas, in my spare hours, at an age of 21 in 1963, I sat down to write a story about an angel I called "Wisdom" who "came down" from Heaven to teach a couple of puberty aged kids - a 15 year old brother named "Simplicity" and his 14 year old sister named "Innocence" - about the facts of life; but Wisdom's "facts of life" varied considerably from traditional Christian "facts of life."
I will admit that may have seemed a bit arrogant for a student for a traditional ministry; but then I was a bit of a brash kid myself and took issue with many stories of old that had their morality tales based upon an "outside God." For what it's worth, "my" God is not an "outside God," but rather an "inside God" - or "Immanent God"; but I will leave a discussion of that to my other writings - including all of my stories.
Anyway, my "Wisdom" took it upon himself to suggest to his young students, Innocence & Simplicity, that life is not near as complicated as some story tellers of the past would have us believe. Wisdom led his students into a nearby woods and began his "teaching" by having his students disrobe and stand naked by one another - and then having cast aside society's garments, he clothed them with an invisible cloak he called "Sanctamonia." That robe was intended to imply that all are already holy and need only to realize it to lead the "good life."
It was really quite a story - if I don't say so myself. After I finished it, I shared it with a few of my fellow students who considered it too "simplistic" for a real world. Life has to be much more complicated than that. If people only had to realize they are already holy, why would we not have all realized that long ago and have made a peaceful world? It was because it was like a story too good to be true that it could not possibly be correct.
That was in 1963 that I wrote my entirely too simplistic story that I called WISDOM. By 1966, after five years of collegiate study, the faculty of St. Thomas finally decided that my "simplistic" thinking is not that of a Catholic priest - and dismissed me from further study. Well, that is a way of putting it anyway.
What happened to my story of WISDOM? I do not know. In subsequent years, I put it aside, storing a single copy of it in my garage where I lived with a first wife, Dee, and young daughter, Anita, in Commerce City, Colorado. In about 1973, I looked for my only copy of WISDOM in order to finally try to publish it; but upon looking for it where I thought I had stored it on a shelf in my garage, it was gone. I do not know if my story of WISDOM was lost by mistake - or perhaps somehow trashed by intention by someone who may have found the tale of it unacceptable. It doesn't really matter how it was lost - only that it was lost. Right?
- Back To The Pen -
But I did pursue telling stories - or trying to tell stories. Later in 1973, I took a creative writings course at the Community College of Denver. For my finals, I wrote a little story I called WAKE UP, BELINDA! My professor, one Joe Dolan, gave me an "A" for that - but like the earlier story of WISDOM, subsequently I lost WAKE UP, BELINDA! too. How nice it would be today to have both of my earliest stories, but life goes on - and the earlier tales of WISDOM and WAKE UP, BELINDA! were resurrected in a way to be told via different stories.
It is always possible, though, that either or both of my early stories have not been lost, but rather only hidden or misplaced. Maybe in a box somewhere there is a copy of either or both tales. It happens that one can slip one work among other works and then store that other work in an archived box - and then presume that an earlier copy of something has been lost - or trashed. I must admit that I seldom go through old boxes of stuff - even writings - and so it could happen that a work has been "archived" in a box that has never been reviewed. Perhaps, but until I find out otherwise, I will presume that both stories of WISDOM and WAKE UP BELINDA! have been lost and not just hidden away.
Be that as it may, in 1975, I resurrected my earlier short story of WAKE UP, BELINDA! and comprised a philosophical novel I called DAVID & BELINDA. David was part of the earlier story as the husband of Belinda. My earlier short story was about a young wife "waking up" to realize that she was entirely wholesome and beautiful as she is and did not need any redemption. Of course, my angel, WISDOM, was still in charge of my intended lessons, though Wisdom had disappeared from my attempt to tell a story.
WISDOM had been an intended allegory, personalizing ideas called "innocence" and "simplicity" as real persons; but DAVID & BELINDA were about two real people discussing the ideas of innocence and simplicity - as well as a whole host of other ideas.
I went on to change the name of my story of DAVID & BELINDA to NEVER BE ASHAMED TO LOVE - and subsequently printed 1,000 copies of it - while copyrighting it as well. Subsequently, I gave away most of my copies of that one to friends and family, but did not print additional copies because I did not care for the way I ended my story.
Throughout my story, I had David & Belinda discussing life and determining answers for themselves via conversation, but at the end, they encountered a bit of a stone wall in trying to find an answer for the life of Jesus if Jesus had not been a "necessary redeemer" - as traditional Christianity taught. I allowed for David & Belinda to offer an argument that Jesus had simply been a "Great Believer," but somewhat left it at that. Still, because I did like my open ending of NEVER BE ASHAMED TO LOVE, I never pursued any additional printing of it.
In 1980, while attending a family reunion, I expressed to a boyhood friend, Kika, that my writing days were over. I had tried to find all the answers I needed by "storying" them into reality, so to speak, and had no desire to continue that course. Kika admonished me that I should not take that path and even though I was not finding all the answers I wanted to find, I was finding some - and I should be happy with that. My stories were my way of "finding the truth" by discussing ideas.
I told Kika that I would write one more story because she wanted me to do so - and after that I would write no more. So I returned home to where I was living in Denver, Colorado from where we had our reunion in Powell, Wyoming and penned a short story I called THE SEVENTH RECORD. It was all about an old couple dealing with the concept and reality of death - since they were so near it. Again, I will not go into further detail.
After receiving a copy of it, however, Kika called me, crying, and told me that I could not stop writing. She said that I would find my answers if I just kept looking - and writing. Shortly after that while walking in a park in Denver, I discovered a truth for which I had long sought - or at least I thought I had discovered a truth for which I had long sought. I wanted to know about the soul - and that was a main gap in my thoughts about life. How explain the soul? While walking in that park in Denver in the Autumn of 1980, I think I found the answer.
At the end of 1980, however, I attempted another story to perhaps pursue discussing the meaning of life from where David & Belinda had left off. I called that one PRISCILLA for the name of the main character, Priscilla - who was a daughter of a Christian minister. That minister decided to close his church by turning it into a community help center and asked his "independently spiritual" daughter to offer the closing sermon. Later I changed the name of my story from PRISCILLA to THE WEDDING GARMENT because I had Priscilla talking about a "wedding garment" in her closing sermon. I won't go into details. Suffice it to say, Priscilla quietly does as her father bids.
Consequent to that, I wrote a bit of a sequel that I called BACKING SATAN INTO THE LIGHT - in which I have one of Priscilla's listeners, Lance, reacting to Priscilla's closing sermon. In that one, Priscilla and Lance meet to discuss some of Lance's issues; and, of course, Lance is convinced of certain truths that come because of their discussions.
One of the ideas that Priscilla and Lance discuss is the alleged existence of an assumed opponent of God called "Satan." Lance lived in relative fear of the one called Satan; but in their discussions, Priscilla and Lance resolve - or "dissolve" Satan by arguing that a Satan need not be feared because of an unliklihood that a Satan can exist.
In reality - once one analyzes the idea of Satan - it becomes somewhat clear that since a "real God" cannot have any opposition because a "real God" cannot be opposed since a "real God" must be "inside" of all that exists, Satan becomes only myth. In that way, in my story, Priscilla and Lance "back Satan into the light" by intellectually dismissing him - or it or her - from possibility of existence. No one need fear that which cannot exist. Needless to say, many will disagree; but at least that is the argument presented in the story I called BACKING SATAN INTO THE LIGHT.
Later, I took the two stories of THE WEDDING GARMENT and BACKING SATAN INTO THE LIGHT and combined them as two parts of a single story I called OUT OF THE DARKNESS - INTO THE LIGHT.
Then in 1986, I decided to try and write a story about a town I called SUMMER TOWN that resurrected good ole David & Belinda again. In that story, David & Belinda go forward to start a naturalist (clothing optional) town of mentioned name in which people of David & Belinda's vision could live together in harmony. Attempting to blend song with story, I turned SUMMER TOWN into a kind of opera - or operetta. Only lyrics are provided, however.
If SUMMER TOWN is ever made into a screen or stage play, all the songs will have to be scored - with melodies provided either by me or by another of perhaps far greater musical talent than me. For the most part, I write lyrics, not tunes - though when creating a song, I always provide somewhat of a tune to it - or for it.
Of course, after my finding my answers to the soul for which I had searched before 1980, the stories after 1980 deal with my discovery - to some extent; and in 1989, I wrote an essay work I called SOULS - ILLUSIONS OR REALITIES? I copyrighted that one too, for my second - or maybe third - copyrighted work. I even contracted with a publisher, Winston-Derek, out of Nashville, Tennessee to publish my work on the soul, but after first contracting to do so, Winston-Derek changed their mind and decided my work would challenge too many of their standard authors - mostly traditional Christian. Thus, SOULS - ILLUSIONS OR REALITIES? has gone into recess - as well as all I have written.
- A New Century
Two More Stories -
Then in 2005, I decided to resurrect the earlier story of David & Belinda and tell their early story via the story of a Tom & Molly. I could not use David & Belinda because I had already changed their course via my story of SUMMER TOWN. So I changed the name of David & Belinda to Tom & Molly - and had them go forward dealing with a neighbor. I called that one ALL'S WELL WITH THE WORLD.
Through all of the "story telling," I admit that my stories are not typical stories. In life, I have no need for great drama. So in my stories, I have no need for great drama either. I have told them as much to learn by them as to teach anyone anything by them. I guess that is probably why I have never insisted on publishing them so the public can have access to them. In a way, they are "my stories" for "my sake" and that is probably why I have left them seemingly "in secret," as it were.
This blog - or essay - is a way to "reveal" them, however. I did not write any of my stories in secret and it has never been my intent to keep them secret. Because of the net - and websites - all of my works are available via my own website. You can review them there - if you wish.
Before finishing with a directory of where to find my stories, let me say that I wrote one more short story in 2007. Call it an "icing on the cake," so to speak. It is about an older gent who is also a grandfather discussing life with his sweet granddaughter. That grandfather is still keeping to the wisdom of WISDOM - my first attempt to tell a story. Throughout it all, nothing much has changed. I still see life as simple and that the key to live it well is to live it "innocently" with "simplicity." It is not hard. We only live to make it hard. That is my belief - and the belief of all my "characters" down through the years. That short story - perhaps my finale in stories - is called PEACE ON EARTH.
My Philosophical Stories
and
Work On The Soul
Now here is my directory. All of my stories - such as they are - are found in the volumes of my OUT IN THE OPEN previous writings feature (8 Volumes) of my website. Check them out as you wish. OK? Here they are:
1. WISDOM (1963) - lost
(But perhaps someday, I will attempt a rewrite in my old age.)
2. WAKE UP, BELINDA! (1973) - lost,
but somewhat recovered in item 3.
3. NEVER BE ASHAMED TO LOVE (1975) -
renamed to its original title, DAVID & BELINDA -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 1
4. THE SEVENTH RECORD (1980) -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 1
5. INTO THE LIGHT (1980) -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 1
(Combining THE WEDDING GARMENT (PRISCILLA) &
BACKING SATAN INTO THE LIGHT))
6. SUMMER TOWN (1986) -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 2
7. SOULS - ILLUSIONS OR REALITIES (1989) -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 2
(Renamed UNMASKING THE SOUL -
an essay work, not a story)
8. ALL'S WELL WITH THE WORLD (2005) -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 4
9. PEACE ON EARTH (2007) -
OUT IN THE OPEN - Volume 6
Conclusion
So there it is - a list of my stories and rather pivotal work on the soul. As implied earlier up above, I may try to resurrect WISDOM and attempt another writing of it. At this time, such a prospect is possible, though I think unlikely. I am not sure about trying to write another story - even if the story is one I tried to tell before. I guess I have to be in the mood for such a thing - and right now I am not in such a mood.
But who knows about the future? Someday I might come home from a daily walk with a story of my old pal, Wisdom, in mind - and simply sit down and start another story. Time will tell.
And time will tell how my other characters have fared over the years too. David & Belinda, Priscilla & Lance, Tom & Molly? Are they still as irrelevant to most cultural society as when I wrote their stories? I do not know. I don't think they have become irrelevant to me, their author, but I will admit that I have not read any of their stories for quite a few years. Even when I added their stories to my writings website a few years ago, I did not take the time to peruse their stories.
I am guessing, however, that we are all still one. Change happens for sure; and that includes my being changed to not represent my old characters anymore, but that is very unlikely. I do not see myself as any different now than I was when I was seven years old. Since all of my characters were also "like seven" when I wrote their stories, it is likely that nothing has changed since I told their stories. Once a child - Always a child!
As for you who are reading this, Be My Guest! You will find all of my stories in (or on) my website - as indicated in my "directory" above. Give them a whirl, if you wish. You may find them somewhat appealing - or a whole lot appealing; and, of course, you may find them as irrelevant as they might be boring. Judge as you will - and be as comfortable with my stories - or any of my writings - as you wish. OK?
With that, my long lost (or hidden) hero, Wisdom, and all of my characters - and my soul - bid you a fond farewell!
Gently,
Francis William Bessler