SONG OF PILGRIM SIMON - A COMMENTARY ON CHAPTER 5 OF THE SPIRITUAL JOURNAL

Once Simon’s Song had been written, a flurry of other studies arising from it emerged…a summary of key ideas: the Coda, a series of studies and discussions: the Counterpoint and... (More) Once Simon’s Song had been written, a flurry of other studies arising from it emerged…a summary of key ideas: the Coda, a series of studies and discussions: the Counterpoint and a small series of personal inspirational encounters on specific themes: the Notes, all forming Simon’s Symphony. Simon’s background in Christian Fundamentalism meant that he was familiar with Bible commentaries: verse-by-verse or passage-by-passage discussion of Biblical texts, such as that produced by Matthew Henry. About a year after the Song was finished and with no additions to the text of the Song, it seemed to him to be an interesting idea to explore the Song in the same way as these Bible commentators and thus it was that the following work began. Simon is assured that only Simon himself can give a true interpretation of the Song, not out of pride, but because Simon’s path is unique to him and the imagery presented is personal to him: it has distinct meanings based on his own life and experience. This does not invalidate the potential for excellent interpretations by others, but the further their own path is away from Simon’s, the more hazy the meanings will seem and the more likely they will be misinterpreted. Others are welcome to add their own insights, bearing this qualification in mind.

What has struck Simon as he has embarked on this project is that he is still learning and gaining insights from what he has written, for what he has written is what he was given as opposed to what he sat down, reasoned and thought about. Sometimes, in the various other studies arising from the Song, he has embarked upon a course of thought, or a concept, or an interpretation that seemed right, only for him to find himself later at a dead end. When he returned to the Song to try and clarify issues, he found the corrective or the answer already there though he had not seen it before. The reading of other studies written by academics and mystics has sometimes put what seems to be a very reasonable idea in Simon’s head only for him to find later that the Song has a different and for him, better concept. Part of the motivation therefore for creating this commentary has been for Simon himself to get at a better understanding of what he himself has written. Writing this commentary has demanded a close attention to words and phrases and a reconciling of seemingly contradictory passages. The pace of writing has varied tremendously – some sections were easy and familiar, but other sections were slow and hard, requiring some thought as to what they were really saying. Some sections challenged Simon’s preconceptions as to what he thought they meant or still further challenged and changed his views.

I hope that the following comments are profitable to the inquirer.

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