THE THE ELEPHANTELEPHANT

And the 6 And the 6 (billion)(billion) blind men blind menA treatise based on an old poem byA treatise based on an old poem by

John Godfrey Saxe (1816 - 1887)John Godfrey Saxe (1816 - 1887)

It was six men of Indostan, It was six men of Indostan, to learning much inclined,to learning much inclined,

who went to see the elephant who went to see the elephant (Though all of them were blind),(Though all of them were blind),

that each by observation,that each by observation,might satisfy his mind.might satisfy his mind.

The first approached the elephant, The first approached the elephant, and, happening to fall,and, happening to fall,

against his broad and sturdy side,against his broad and sturdy side,at once began to bawl:at once began to bawl:

"God bless me! but the elephant, "God bless me! but the elephant, is nothing but a wall!"is nothing but a wall!"

The second feeling of the tusk, The second feeling of the tusk, cried: "Ho! what have we here,cried: "Ho! what have we here,so very round and smooth and so very round and smooth and sharp? To me tis mighty clear,sharp? To me tis mighty clear,

this wonder of an elephant,this wonder of an elephant, is very like a spear!" is very like a spear!"

The third approached the animal, The third approached the animal, and, happening to take,and, happening to take,

the squirming trunk within his hands, the squirming trunk within his hands, "I see," quoth he, the elephant "I see," quoth he, the elephant

is very like a snake!"is very like a snake!"

The fourth reached out his eager hand, The fourth reached out his eager hand, and felt about the knee:and felt about the knee:

"What most this wondrous beast is like, "What most this wondrous beast is like, is mighty plain," quoth he;is mighty plain," quoth he;

"Tis clear enough the elephant "Tis clear enough the elephant is very like a tree."is very like a tree."

The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, The fifth, who chanced to touch the ear, Said; "E'en the blindest manSaid; "E'en the blindest man

can tell what this resembles most;can tell what this resembles most;Deny the fact who can,Deny the fact who can,

This marvel of an elephant, This marvel of an elephant, is very like a fan!"is very like a fan!"

The sixth no sooner had begun, The sixth no sooner had begun, about the beast to grope,about the beast to grope,

than, seizing on the swinging tail, than, seizing on the swinging tail, that fell within his scope,that fell within his scope,

"I see," quoth he, "the elephant is "I see," quoth he, "the elephant is very like a rope!"very like a rope!"

And so these men of Indostan, And so these men of Indostan, disputed loud and long,disputed loud and long,each in his own opinion, each in his own opinion,

exceeding stiff and strong,exceeding stiff and strong,Though each was partly in the Though each was partly in the right, and all were in the wrong!right, and all were in the wrong!

Parts is parts…Parts is parts…

…but elephants aren’t parts! They are a living, breathing,

trumpeting, lumbering, and very intelligent, multi-functional

biological system.

We might say that each partis a mere sample of the intricate

multi-functionality of the extremely profound & complicated Elephant!

Food for thought…Food for thought…Each of the proverbial six blind men touched only one small part of the

elephant & reported his conclusion about the beast to others. All was confusion and contradiction. Little was gained.

Had the blind men collaborated and integrated their understanding, they

would have been able to characterize the great animal in more useful ways.

None of the men were able to see the elephant but by listening to each

other's stories, they came to understand that the elephant was

much larger and more diverse than the small part each had experienced.

So it is with us and God. We are “blind” as He’s invisible to us!

But as we hear the stories of God, we learn that what we understood

before… was only a very small part of the total experience.

He is a SPIRIT!

He is LOVE!

He is LIGHT!

He is the Creator!

He is very Big! He is the

Eternal Father of

all spirits!

And thus He is…The invisible, The invisible, immenselyimmensely

great, & great, & extremelyextremely intelligent, Eternal Spirit of intelligent, Eternal Spirit of

Love and Light, the One and Love and Light, the One and Only, who created us all, & Only, who created us all, &

is the Father is the Father of all Spirits!of all Spirits!

But He’s not But He’s not justjust that… that… He is much He is much moremore than that! than that!To really experience Him, To really experience Him,

we can only receive sight of we can only receive sight of Him when we finally join Him when we finally join

Him in glory!Him in glory!Then we shall know, evenThen we shall know, even

as also we as also we areare known! known!

Why not ask the Elephant Himself…?Why not ask the Elephant Himself…?Why not get to know Him?Why not get to know Him?Do you think for a moment Do you think for a moment that he doesn’t want you to that he doesn’t want you to feel and get to know Him?feel and get to know Him?

Of course He does!Of course He does!When his spirit creations When his spirit creations search for Him, ask about search for Him, ask about Him! Seek Him! Invite Him Him! Seek Him! Invite Him

into their lives! And into their lives! And especially into their hearts!especially into their hearts!

That to Him is a thrilling That to Him is a thrilling experience!experience!

And He will reward your And He will reward your interest in Him! interest in Him!

He can tell you all about He can tell you all about Himself, if you’ll just get Himself, if you’ll just get

quiet and listen to His still quiet and listen to His still small voice in your heart!small voice in your heart!St. Paul did, and this is St. Paul did, and this is

What What hehe received received from Him…from Him…

The Love Chapter! (1 Corinthians 13)1 Though I speak with the tongues of men and of angels, and have not charity, I am become as sounding brass, or a tinkling cymbal.2 And though I have the gift of prophecy, and understand all mysteries, and all knowledge; and though I have all faith, so that I could remove mountains, and have not charity, I am nothing.3 And though I bestow all my goods to feed the poor, and though I give my body to be burned, and have not charity, it profits me nothing.4 Charity suffers long, and is kind; charity envies not; charity vaunts not itself, is not puffed up,5 Does not behave itself unseemly, seeks not her own, is not easily provoked, thinks no evil;6 Rejoices not in iniquity, but rejoices in the truth;7 Bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things.8 Charity never fails: but whether there be prophecies, they shall fail; whether there be tongues, they shall cease; whether there be knowledge, it shall vanish away.9 For we know in part, and we prophesy in part.10 But when that which is perfect is come, then that which is in part shall be done away.11 When I was a child, I spoke as a child, I understood as a child, I thought as a child: but when I became a man, I put away childish things.12 For now we see through a glass, darkly; but then face to face: now I know in part; but then shall I know even as also I am known.13 And now abides faith, hope, charity, these three; but the greatest of these is charity.

A small part of the Big Experience?A small part of the Big Experience?

He IS love! And He loves you! He IS love! And He loves you! Get to know Him today!Get to know Him today!

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