Insight, Meditations and Reflections

Father's Day food for thought.  A father's words to his son: “Friendship is a precious gift that can’t be bought or sold. It’s value is greater than mountains made of gold. If you shall ask God for a gift be thankful if he sends not diamonds pearls or riches but the love and trust of friends.”

 

The Friendship of Damon and Pythias Retold

The King Dionysius I stared into the young man’s eyes. “Damon, you’re naïve and too trusting.”

“Your Majesty, Pythias and I have been friends from childhood.” Damon said. “When we were very young we made a pact to keep our words, no matter the circumstances.” Damon wiped the tears dripping down his cheeks, red with fear.

The king’s men and the executioners stood by, waiting for the deadline.

“Well,” said the King. “Pythias, your friend, accused me in his public speeches of tyranny. He was tried and found guilty of sedition. He deserved death. No one can sow dissention in my kingdom without paying the price. But he pleaded to visit his family across the sea one last time to put his affairs in order before dying. He wanted to say goodbye to his family. You agreed to be held here until he returns."

“Yes, my lord, I did. I still pledge to receive the death penalty on his behalf if he is unable to make it back here before the appointed time.”

“He isn't here. We've waited for him for three days now.”

“Pythias, my lord, is an honorable man. I know that he isn’t here because of circumstances beyond his power.”

The king then ordered the executioners to execute Damon, the innocent friend.

As they were getting ready, Pythias arrived. He was out of breath. His hair was scattered. He Bruises covered his body. He was dripping with blood and water.

The king and his men were astonished.

Pythias spoke with difficulty. “Thank you, Damon, for trusting me. Through your kindness I was able to set my affairs at home in order. As we were sailing back, pirates attacked our ship. They threw me into the water. I swam to the shore and was able to make it here alive to keep my word.”

The king was moved by the friendship of Damon and Pythias. He pardoned Pythias and made the two friends his most trusted advisors.

In the sixth installment in the series, we saw that nurturing the Sacred Fire is the primary goal of life. Unfortunately, most of us ignore the needs of our Inner Sacred Fire. Many of us have no relationship with that Inner presence.

The bond of trust between our waking consciousness and the Sacred Fire within must be as strong as the friendship of Damon and Pythias. When our awareness builds this unwavering trust we begin to experience a dimension that more and more people are discovering. What experiences point to a trusting relationship of the self and the Inner Presence?

The Friendhsip of Damon and Pythias