“My soul followeth hard after thee.” I think that voices the deepest sentiment of my heart from my early youth. And recently reading St. Augustine again, I discover that he was saying the same thing in the 4th century a.d. and furthermore many other ancient men and women did the same. And, my passion for literature has introduced me to many contemporary men and women who have the same intense drive in their life. Furthermore, the blog-o-sphere has allowed me to meet many others who feel that passion and do so with the same anonymity that I enjoy.

I think that from our earliest days on the planet there were men and women who made this discovery and dared to share it on occasion. Often the tribal elders looked askance, I’m sure, probably private chuckling with each other and saying, “Hell, I just wish he would get laid and get that stuff out of his system.” And in modern times, I have to wonder if back in the ‘fifties “they” had known about the “god spot” and been able to tweak it with neurotransmitters, what would have happened? Hell, I might even be living an Ozzie life of the “Ozzie and Harriet” genre! But no, I’ve been cursed with this “lean and hungry look” and daily pine, “As the hart panteth after the water brooks, so panteth my soul after thee, O God.”

Seriously, I don’t know what this is all about. Some of us have sentiments like this one I’m describing and I’m glad that we do. Many of our ilk have accomplished a lot in the world and left a lot of wisdom for mankind. This passion for me does not have the fury that it used to. I’ve grown up and don’t take myself as seriously as I used to…most of the time! But it is there and it is more comforting as I take it…and myself…less seriously.

Throughout all the lying days of my youth
I waved my leaves and flowers in the sun.
Now may I wither into the truth. (W. B. Yeats)