Nevada County Picayune and Gurdon Times Newspaper Archive

Into the Void with John Miller

Yea though the traveler walk through the valley of the shadow of darkness and ignorance there is light, for he carries it within himself, listening not to the lowing herds who seek the comfort of one another as they await the slaughter. Those who pray for salvation, yet do nothing to attain it, save spewing empty words. Words without meaning. Words without passion. Words without belief.

Ah, the mentality of the herds, though, spouts its wisdom. "See how great we are," the flock says. "Look at all we have accomplished. Look at our achievements and buildings."

Naught but empty words, these. Petty deeds thought to be great, yet nothing more than a blight in time and space.

Herds looking for leaders, trying to create someone to follow in their own image, yet doing nothing more than wasting energy and effort.

The traveler looks around, trying to find those with greatness inside, and discovers only darkness around him. He sees their smallness of mind and spirit and wonders how can a people live in such a way.

"Rise up," he says, though none will take the time to speak with him. "Rise up and cast off your yokes. Free yourself from smallness and walk toward the summit. Rid yourself of darkness and bring forth the light. Dare to be more. Dare to be great."

Yet the words fall harmlessly to the ground. Unheard. Unheeded. Unwanted. Unknown. Feared.

Rise up. Be great. Seek greater heights. Take chances. How foolish. The herd mentality dares not, chances naught, and remains planted firmly in one spot. Looking at the traveler as if he were an animal, not a man. Considering him insane for his ideas. Ignoring him because he is different. He acts differently. Thinks differently. See differently, and defers to none.

"How," the herd says, "can such a beast live. Always alone. Crazed with ideas of greatness. Taking risks instead of playing it safe and staying with the herd. It must be killed before its ranting and raving infects others. It must be destroyed before it harms our young with such polluted thoughts as freedom, responsibility for one's own actions, rising above one's station in life, or thinking for one's self.

"Destroy the different. Destroy the unusual. Destroy the unique. Destroy, destroy, destroy."

The traveler, though, ignores such ignoble sentiments and continues his journey. Always looking. Always trying. Always alone.