Nicolas Shrady; sceptic on a pilgrimage, <br />following holy trails to religious shrines, <br />seeking the spiritual within the physical – <br />realising he was ‘an outsider, a passive <br />observer, and always would be’ <br /> <br />Saw artificial attempts to impress, had to <br />be content with only meditation, could not <br />simulate false piety, couldn’t find what he <br />doesn’t already believe <br /> <br />Observation proved fickle – symbolical <br />content depends on already present belief, <br />tried ceremonies, followed customs, found <br />faith had no roots in anything substantial <br /> <br />Supernatural events happen to believers <br />only, which the five senses abjure, faithless <br />see nothing; he enjoyed a fabulous spiritual <br />journey, made friends, <br /> <br />Learned to appreciate wonder and beauty of <br />innocence, trust in the human heart, but the <br />ability of the believer to make things true <br />which a sceptic can never see taught him <br />honour and respect… <br /> <br /> “Sacred Roads” by Nicholas Shrady Penguin Books 2000 <br />p75 ‘…an outsider, a passive observer and always would be’<br /><br />Margaret Alice<br /><br />http://www.poemhunter.com/poem/2011-04-01-honour-and-respect-rev/
