The men, halted, had opportunity to see some of their comrades dropping with moans and shrieks. A few lay under foot, still or wailing. And now for an instant the men stood, their rifles slack in their hands, and watched the regiment dwindle. They appeared dazed and stupid. This spectacle seemed to paralyze them, overcome them with a fatal fascination. They stared woodenly at the sights, and, lowering their eyes, looked from face to face. It was a strange pause, and a strange silence.
Then above the sounds of the outside commotion, arose the roar of the lieutenant. He strode suddenly forth, his infantile features black with rage.
“Come on, yeh fools!” he bellowed. “Come on! Yeh can’t stay here. Yeh must come on.” He said more, but much of it could not be understood.
He started rapidly forward with his head turned toward the men. “Come on,” he was shouting. The men stared with blank and yokel-like eyes at him. He was obliged to halt and retrace his steps. He stood then with his back to the enemy and delivered gigantic curses into the faces of the men. His body vibrated from the weight and force of his imprecations. And he could string oaths with the facility of a maiden who strings beads.
Excerpt from The Red Badge of Courage, Stephen Crane 1894
I begin these July’s reflections with an excerpt from Stephan Crane’s timeless novel not to do a book report. (Did that in high school Grade C+). Unlike Mr Crane my vocabulary fell well short of understanding what “imprecations” meant and I was too lazy to look it up! But when I grew up ( a few years ago) I made a promise to myself: I would reread much of the literature my high school English teacher asked us to read. The Red Badge of Courage was on my list. I was fascinated to finally learn that Stephen Crane was only twenty-two when he wrote this novel that captured the essence of the battles depicted so well that after publication, old soldiers still living, wrote to him to congratulate him on his accuracy. Stephen Crane, much to everyone’s surprise, had never been to a battle or seen a battle during his young life. Amazing.
Why do I take up your time to point this factoid out? Because I have been introducing my intent to share my personal reflections, not just about faith in the image of a God, but my rudimentary understanding of the science that postulates there is a Primal Energy, That which has always existed, the Eternal Unmanifest called God, conscious of Its own power, law emitting, law abiding and most Harmonious. (page 4, Science of Being by Eugene Fersen). Like Stephen Crane I have never been to battle or had a near death experience. I have never studied religion in a formal setting. I find my inspiration in reading literature, philosophy, novels, etc. I reflect! Whatever feels comfortable to me,as I lean against my lighthouse, I summon up the courage to share with you. I do not pretend to be so shallow to think for a moment that my musings can ever be equal to any of the great authors highlighted in my posts.
Current events always color my thoughts. Stephen Crane’s novel gives the reader an up close personal view of the Civil War as it affected a common soldier. Many countless volumes on the battles of the Civil War and films have shown the horror of that war in detail. I feel that today we are in the midst of an un-civil war. Our uncivil discourse is continuing to divide us. Harmony is a precursor to attraction that leads to healing the cuts of division.
Thank you for reading,
Mark