The Search (A Long Story)

By Richard Hannibal

He promised them Paradise. When they finally found it, tasted it, and touched it, they were still not satisfied and went on searching for more. Since they were already "there," the search could only lead them away from the place they longed to be. Their true selves knew, but they allowed the emotions of their mortal bodies to lead them away.

The taste and the touch remained fresh in their memory as they moved further and further away from the source. This memory, while fresh, gave them the illusion that they were getting nearer instead of farther. Their search was so intense that they barely perceived the fading memory until a day came when it was no more. Without the memory they soon lost their inspiration, followed by the loss of what they were searching for.

The circles and wandering took them through the ages. The memory would come and go just enough to give the feeling of longing, but time dimmed the vision of what was longed for. They tried many things to recapture that ancient feeling of peace and contentment. Many teachers came and went with the same message that Paradise was now. But, still they fought and resisted these messages, always looking forward to a place in time when they would find whatever they were looking for. They continued to follow the emotional reactions of their mortal bodies.

The search was long and hard. It took them in and out of Paradise many times, but they were so intent on the search they failed to see. They searched in and out, over and under for the thing they searched for. A glimpse here and there only sent them scrambling away from the thing they longed for.

Time passed, souls grew weary, but slowly a distant voice was heard and it became louder. They listened. He promised them Paradise. When they finally found it, tasted it and touched it, they . . .