What Is The Truth

[Guest guest]

 

 

" What Is The Truth " by Ted Hughes

 

 

One Day God's Son Looked down at the Earth

and said to his Father: " I would like to go down and visit mankind. "

 

And God said: " Why would you want to do that? "

 

And God's Son answered: " It might be interesting, I'm curious,

I might learn something. "

 

" Stay here, " said God. " Curiosity is dangerous. Be satisfied with Heaven. "

 

But God's Son still went on gazing at the earth. He didn't quite know why,

but something about mankind fasciated him. It puzzled him, and disturbed him,

but it fascinated him.

 

" I really would like to visit mankind, " He said, " It looks quite exciting.

Besides,

travel broadens the mind. "

 

God put his arm around his Son's shoulders.

 

" Take my advice, " said God. " Stay here. Mankind cannot teach you anthing

Mankind thinks it knows everything. It knows everything but the Truth, "

 

God's Son frowned. What did his Father mean? How could mankind be so

clever, and yet so ignorant at the same time? How could it know everything, and

yet not know the Truth?

 

God watched his Son's baffled face. And He decided the time had come for

a memorable lesson.

 

So God took his Son's hand and led him down to earth. It was night, about two

o'clock in the morning, when their feet touched the top of a grassy hill, and

God's Son felt his feet wet with the dew. Man was asleep. God's Son stood with

with wide eyes, and all around him he saw the valleys in mist, and the sleeping

farms,

under the full moon. And away below he could see the spire and roofs of a

village,

in a hollow, the the moonlit mist.

 

" We will speak to the people " said God. " We will ask them a few simple

questions

Then you shall hear. In their sleep, they will say what they truly know. That

is

another odd thing about mankind. When they are awake, they are deepest asleep.

When they are asleep, they are widest awake, Strange creatures! "

 

And God said; " To begin with, let us ask the Farmer a question. " And God called

to the Farmer.

 

 

 

More of the story, if you like on other days.

 

 

Love,

Anna