Augustine, Saint, strolled musing 'long the strand,
Absorbed and baffled by a mystery,
Enigma that he failed to understand,
In its for him too great complexity,

Lo! three in one, he asked, how can that be?
This problem taxed the holy bishop’s brain,
Surpassed his intellect's keen faculty,
And proved trained reasoning sterile and vain.

So big a problem, enigmatic scheme,
Unravel it, - impossibility,
To solve the mystery was beyond him,-
Way far beyond his mind’s acuity.

He stopped his strolling and then gently smiled,-
His eyes beholding,- digging in the sand
With scoop and water pail and bowl- a child,
Engrossed, with zeal, and purposeful intent.

"What are you doing here child?- asked the Saint.
With scoop and pail, big bowl and can of tin?":
“Good Sir, I dug a hole here in the sand,
And hasten now to pour the ocean in!”

“Look here! - I have to run and fill the bowl,-
I am busy Sir, please kindly let me be,
I got to fill with water now my hole,
Until it holds the big and shimmering sea”

Light beams now filled the Saint who suddenly
Grasped that mere learning was irrelevant,-
The Triune ocean of infinity-
Man’s meant to adore, but need not comprehend.

© Elizabeth Dandy
Feast of the Holy Trinity
Sunday, May 22/05

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Unfathomable Contributed by Elizabeth_Dandy on Monday, 23rd May 2005 @ 07:06:38 AM in AEST Topic: spiritual Augustine, Saint, strolled musing 'long the strand, Absorbed and baffled by a mystery, Enigma that he failed to understand, In its for him too great complexity, Lo! three in one, he asked, how can that be? This problem taxed the holy bishop’s brain, Surpassed his intellect's keen faculty, And proved trained reasoning sterile and vain. So big a problem, enigmatic scheme, Unravel it, - impossibility, To solve the mystery was beyond him,- Way far beyond his mind’s acuity. He stopped his strolling and then gently smiled,- His eyes beholding,- digging in the sand With scoop and water pail and bowl- a child, Engrossed, with zeal, and purposeful intent. "What are you doing here child?- asked the Saint. With scoop and pail, big bowl and can of tin?": “Good Sir, I dug a hole here in the sand, And hasten now to pour the ocean in!” “Look here! - I have to run and fill the bowl,- I am busy Sir, please kindly let me be, I got to fill with water now my hole, Until it holds the big and shimmering sea” Light beams now filled the Saint who suddenly Grasped that mere learning was irrelevant,- The Triune ocean of infinity- Man’s meant to adore, but need not comprehend. © Elizabeth Dandy Feast of the Holy Trinity Sunday, May 22/05 Copyright © Elizabeth_Dandy ... [ 2005-05-23 07:06:38] (Date/Time posted on site) Advertisments: Previous Posted Poem         | |         Next Posted Poem

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Re: Unfathomable (User Rating: 1 ) by lovingcritters on Monday, 23rd May 2005 @ 07:57:24 AM AEST (User Info | Send a Message) How very enlightening ED. I too like Saint Augustine could never make sense of the Trinity. While reasoning upon this image, how could there be three in one. Then as I searched, and searched, I knew the Truth had to be found. Logically, the truth has got to ring pure and true, so I tested it out in every avenue.....Unlike St. Augustine, the only conclusion I could come to, was there simply is not a trinity, a God with three heads in one. The Bible tells me that He (the Father) expects us to search and search, and make sure of all things, He gave us the reasoning powers, and also the magnificient brain. He expects us to use it for more than just decoration obvious. Look at you ED you know 8 languages, can write them, and I think speak them.....FANTASTIC!!! All to His credit of course, but how many people in this Universe can accomplish that feat? You do because you obviously searched, searched, and searched again, and it was very important to you. Likewise the same with me, The Trinity simply does not make sense, and I cannot accept anything from Him that doesn't, afterall it means my life. If I can't explain it to others, then how can I expect to believe it myself. Your poem was excellent, dear friend, and I appreciate the thought and all the time you spent on it. You're a dear and kind loving friend. Warm love consue

Re: Unfathomable (User Rating: 1 ) by Former_Member on Monday, 23rd May 2005 @ 08:27:00 AM AEST (User Info | Send a Message) beautiful write again Elizabeth,,,my hats off to you,,,

Re: Unfathomable (User Rating: 1 ) by emystar on Monday, 23rd May 2005 @ 11:07:56 PM AEST (User Info | Send a Message) Awesome. Luv the music too. luv, huggs, smiles, emy

Re: Unfathomable (User Rating: 1 ) by reflections on Wednesday, 25th May 2005 @ 06:11:58 AM AEST (User Info | Send a Message) It seems we all have our vision of the Trinity. Your tale includes a little child, who with simplicity, offers an idea to a struggling mind. The simplest things solve the most complicated problems. I see mankind as the walking trinity. The eternal soul represents the Father. The body that will die eventually, only to rise again, represents the Son. The conscience, which constantly reminds us of the difference between good, and evil is God’s Holy Spirit which sustains us. Simple? Maybe . . . but, I am still a child in the overall scheme of God’s plan. The beauty of your words, and the depth of your thoughts are constantly prodding those who read your works to move ever forward in their understanding of, and relationship with, God-the Father; God-the Son; and God-the Holy Spirit. Your words are always delightful. The “Good Word” is always a blessing. You supply me with both . John

Re: Unfathomable (User Rating: 1 ) by Lionel on Thursday, 26th May 2005 @ 08:24:29 AM AEST (User Info | Send a Message) Brilliant Elizabeth. I read about that account in: Calvin and Augustine (by Warfield), City of God, The Institutes, or somewhere else, a number of years ago. Thanks for refreshing it to my mind. I'm sure you probably know that St. Augustine is my favorite Catholic. He's the one who exposed and temporarily put down the pelagian heresy, which we now call Armenianism. By the way, I meant to ask you in a former communication, have you ever had the pleasure to read Joseph Epstein - He writes articles for various magazines such as : Commentary (a brilliant Jewish mag. I subscribe to), The American Spectator, etc. He is an amazing writer. You may get Commentary on the web. If you do, find his june article on: The Life of Art - A Story. You'll bust a gut, laughing, and enjoy it immensely. God bless you dear. Lionel