Plato in his work, The Republic, mentions an allegorical story about two groups of humans who live in a cave. In his story, one group of people spend their entire lives chained hand and foot, forced to face a blank wall in this cave. The cave itself is lit by rather large fire that is situated behind the prisoners. The other group of people in the cave stand between the prisoners and the fire casting shadows on this blank wall. To the prisoners chained in the cave, these shadows are their reality. After all, they have seen nothing else.
Plato then goes on to describe how one of the humans escapes to the outside world and soon realizes that the shadows of the cave are nothing but illusions. This former prisoner sees the sun for the first time and begins to quickly acclimate to his new surroundings. He comes to learn and understand the passing of the seasons, the weather, and nature. He begins to appreciate his freedom and enjoy. However, the former prisoner is also reminded of those he left behind and he thinks to go back and free them as well. Plato goes on to suggest that there would be some among the prisoners who would not appreciate the offer and would prefer to watch shadows on the wall of the cave rather than being free. In fact, some of the prisoners would be so angry with the idea that the shadows were nothing but illusions that they would seek to kill whoever suggested it.
Recently, I have been trying to determine why I seem so distant from God. I've come to realize that I too have been living in a cave, watching shadows on a blank wall; distracted from the reality of God and His presence. I have chased after illusions and fantasies, not realizing that what I thought was reality, was nothing but shadows and dust.
I truly want to be like the freed prisoner. I want to see the sunlight and experience the joys of freedom, to be able to see truth and reality. So, how does one do this? The answer is really quite simple, Seek the truth. Choose to follow the source of the true light that never fades, that never dims, and never casts false shadows.
Whenever I was meditating on this idea, the following scripture came to mind.
"My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Jeremiah 2:13
What a powerful statement! Even as I read it again, I'm stuck at how often I do this. I seek after sustenance from a source other than God when it is God himself who is the ultimate source! My creations are inadequate and faulty. God's are perfect and everlasting. Why is it so hard to see that and choose Him?
Focus. It seems that my issue comes from lack of true focus and discipline. I must learn to empty myself of all my illusions and allow God to be my reality. I must make a conscious effort to seek Him at all times. And, I must be fully aware of the existence and the true nature of the shadows that dance before me.
Recently, I have been trying to determine why I seem so distant from God. I've come to realize that I too have been living in a cave, watching shadows on a blank wall; distracted from the reality of God and His presence. I have chased after illusions and fantasies, not realizing that what I thought was reality, was nothing but shadows and dust.
I truly want to be like the freed prisoner. I want to see the sunlight and experience the joys of freedom, to be able to see truth and reality. So, how does one do this? The answer is really quite simple, Seek the truth. Choose to follow the source of the true light that never fades, that never dims, and never casts false shadows.
Whenever I was meditating on this idea, the following scripture came to mind.
"My people have committed two sins:
They have forsaken me,
the spring of living water,
and have dug their own cisterns,
broken cisterns that cannot hold water." Jeremiah 2:13
What a powerful statement! Even as I read it again, I'm stuck at how often I do this. I seek after sustenance from a source other than God when it is God himself who is the ultimate source! My creations are inadequate and faulty. God's are perfect and everlasting. Why is it so hard to see that and choose Him?
Focus. It seems that my issue comes from lack of true focus and discipline. I must learn to empty myself of all my illusions and allow God to be my reality. I must make a conscious effort to seek Him at all times. And, I must be fully aware of the existence and the true nature of the shadows that dance before me.
