Lost in Modern Times
A poem of reflection
Here’s a poem for everyone to read. This came out of inner dissonance and frustration with all we are seeing and experiencing from our social influencers now—especially those who traffic in the same lanes I move in…
Stand at the crossroads, and look,
and ask for the ancient paths,
where the good way lies; and walk in it,
and find rest for your souls.
But they said, ‘We will not walk in it.’
Jeremiah 6:16 NRSV
Lost in Modern Times by Stephen W. Smith Were it not for ancient voices, We could not hear the call forward. Were it not for ancient ways, We could be lost in modern times. Social influencers are like Greek sirens, Wooing and calling to all who would hear them. Now, the world is a marketplace, everyone a brand, Spiritual trinkets and salvation products all found in the doom scroll. The quest is to be a celebrity—not a saint anymore. The naïve seem practitioners before they are seasoned, Selling truths that are not tried, nor tested by fire. Lite quotes do not set a soul free. We can be inspired but not transformed. Amass information but not wisdom, Always seeking but rarely finding, Bartering transcendence in the name of self-help. In this broken world, now set on fire, Let us move to the deep, Find the trusted currents That take us home.
What resonates?
What line causes you to pause?
What do you feel in reading this poem?
Thank you for another thoughtful poem, Steve!
“We can be inspired but not transformed. Amass information but not wisdom.”
“Called to deep currents…”
More and more I need solitude and silence, the contemplative path, to enter the deep currents that are transformative and where wisdom emerges!
I read this at Sunrise when the sun looked like fire peeking through the trees in our backyard...so the words "broken world now on fire" took on special meaning. so broken and beautiful sat together in my heart in a healing way inspired by your poem and the morning sun..