Blind Men meet Jumbo

For those of us who think we have it all worked out, especially this ‘God stuff’, here’s a poem you’ll enjoy that brings us back to size -

The Blind Men and The Elephant

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

Who went to see the elephant…(though all of them were blind),

That each by observation,…might satisfy his mind.

 

The First approached the elephant,…and happening to fall

Against his broad and sturdy side,…at once began to bawl,

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

The Second, feeling of the tusk,…cried: "Ho! What have we here

So very round and smooth and sharp?...to me 'tis mighty clear

This wonder of an elephant…is very like a spear!"

The Third approached the animal,…and happening to take

The squirming trunk within his hands,…thus boldly up and spake:

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

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

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

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

The Fifth, who chanced to touch the ear,…said: "Even the blindest man

Can tell what this resembles most;…deny the fact who can,

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

 

The Sixth no sooner had begun…about the beast to grope,

Then, seizing on the swinging tail…that fell within his scope,

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

And so these men of Indostan…disputed loud and long

Each in his own opinion…exceeding stiff and strong,

Though each was partly in the right,…and all were in the wrong!

So, oft in theologic wars…the disputants, I ween,

Rail on in utter ignorance…of what each other mean,

And prate about an elephant…not one of them has seen!

- John Godfrey Saxe

 

Acknowledgement: 
Dr. Chuck Missler, Holographic Universe,
Koinonia House