I Found Jesus; He's a Flashlight

A poem inspired by events surrounding a Plastic Jesus Flashlight Figurine. Then I go on a crazy quest for knowledge.

I found Jesus; and he's a flashlight.

Illuminating my every step, he shined brightly upon me.

I followed faith blindly, along Grace's path.

Then, Jesus' battery died.

My sight grew dim as my vision succumbed to the darkness.

I saw the last rays of light trace across the floor, and fade instantly into nothing.

My world was consumed by an empty darkness, devoid of light and form.

An ungodly silence, which resided in the void, wrought forth my darkest thoughts and crowded my mind. 

It gleaned from my every hope and dream, and waged war on my psyche.

It had deafened me to "reason".

Now alone, unaware, and without bearing, I staggered forward in this state distemperate, and delusional.

How long I had traversed this void without direction is hard to say. 

It was not until a sound echoed from a distance, that I gained focus.

It was a voice.

I searched, in vain, for the direction from which it came.

But, it was not to be found.

In desperation, I grasped at the air. 

Then the voice broke through once again, and landed on my ear. 

This time it had gained fidelity, and became audible.

I had only begun to discern what was said, when a Spirit unction lifted me away. 

I was set down across from an indistinguishable figure.

Looking over its shoulder, I could see that I was no longer trapped in my previous prison.

Here, light stretched vertically across the expanse forming a Horizon which sat level in the distance.

I lowered my eyes from the sky, and settled them back on the mysterious figure before me.

Gazing upon this silhouette for some time, I had hoped to elicit some activity from it.

Upon closer look, I noticed that a meek and fragile figure of small physical stature sat square to me; his eyes affixed to mine.

I found Gandhi, and he's a Pez Dispenser.

Candy-colored kernels of knowledge flowed freely from his mouth.

Sounding sweet, millions eat and digest his words without thought or question.

I felt inspired, although my appetite and soul still hungered for something more, something substantial.

But, I could not pass up the teachings of Gandhi. Thus I ate.

 

Filling myself with his spoken word, I metabolized verse by verse, each of his five teachings. 

I freely fed upon his sugar-coated knowledge, stopping only to gain an understanding of Life.

My mind became fattened by the volumes of Earthly facts I had retained.

This newly acquired Insight shed light on each step I took. 

While wisdom weighed heavily upon me as it burdened my mind to solve world problems.

But the day he ran out I was hungry, and left my soul decaying.

Sadly, it became apparent that I must move on if I were to thrive, and grow strong. 

For once I was sustained with spiritual milk, but now I sought spiritual food with substance and bone.

I found the Pope, and he's a vending machine.

A purveyor of lies. 

Forgiveness and absolution did not come cheap, they are top shelf items kept out of most reach.

Sold solely to those with something to give, but given not to those souls with reason to live.

This seemed unfair; at the time I was enraged. 

Only with age did I learn, these items aren't bought, they're earned. 

So I turned from religion and found Politics playing Scrabble; it bickered with Bureaucracy over semantics. 

Locked in a war of words, neither side was willing to give.

But, both did sit oblivious and ignorant, paying no mind to those who had placed them there. 

Politics focused, taking its time, and leaned in gazing intently.

Bureaucracy laid its pieces down quickly, spelling DEMOCRACY!

As one bragged about beating the other, I noticed that neither could give me my answer. 

I found myself; I am a puppet.

My strings are pulled tight, and then they're let go. 

I'm held by a noose that's made of regret, hanging loose from my neck it resets marionettes.

During my search for peace through Doctrines and Dogmas, I ceased to be me, rather I became my beliefs.

I assimilate into my surrounding, and integrate into my being, ideals and thoughts not of my own.

I am just a semblance of a man, a shell if you will. But, at least this man knows where he stands when the worlds religions all fail.