KANSAS

CITY,

MO PU B Lf U

ui

DIALOGUE

IN

THE DESERT

DIALOG
IN

tF

THE

DESERT
GERALD HEARD

HARPER & BROTHERS PUBLISHERS

New York
and London

A DIALOGUE IN THE DESERT. Copyright, 1942, by Gerald Heard.

Printed in the United States of America. All rights in this book are
reserved.

No part of the book may be reproduced in any manner whatFor information address Harper
C-R

soever without written permission.

& Brothers.

FIRST EDITION

N T R O D U C:v&

ION

THE BASIC THEMES OF HISTORY EACH AGE

has to render and accent in
its

own

vernacular.

Each

epoch makes

its

own
its

mous

character in

version of the supreme eponysocial heredity. Caesar because

of his gifts

and

his circumstances

became the type

of

who shatters liberty to give efficiency. So who lives in a period of political libertinage, Dante,
the soldier
writes the de

Monarchia and puts the

assassins of

Julius in the deepest pit of his abominable hell. Even a greater poet has also to use the Caesar symbol. He

however
ised so

is

living in

an epoch when
the

ginning again to

rise against

men were bemasters who promthe

like

kings

much and gave such sorry performance who called themselves Godlike but behaved
So
in Julius Caesar Shakespeare

beasts.

makes the

proto-Emperor a vainglorious epileptic only allowed to appear in order to usher in the noble assassin who

DIALOGUE
whom

perishes at tfc&Jjaads of Caesar's

is

hounds because he

too splendid to be understood by the people

Caesar and his lackey Antony can always buy with with rhetoric. The authors largess or intoxicate simply
living in the

dawn

of this day of dictatorships

again
glorify

such

as

the

German Mommsen
one man not the
all

Caesar.
ar-

Swords not trowels build civilization.

bitrary will of

The armed
and

free co-operation of a

people

is

the source of
is

construction

creation.
influ-

There

however

more enigmatic and more

that
is

ential figure

than the Caesar's

the Chrisf s.

He

too has been interpreted as each age could under-

stand him.

The Good Shepherd

becomes

in the simple draw-

ings in the Catacombs,

in turn: the Protector

of the Empire; the awe-inspiring Pantocrator in the

shining mosaics

on the impend churches and

palaces;

the terrible Judge in the fanatic Dooms of the medieval cathedrals; the natural and sensible Teacher of

the Age of Reason and

Good

Sense; the romantic Re-

former

who

dies for his faith in the

Romantic Revival-

then, in

our

own

time, to the Liberals the Liberal

who

only wanted to free

men from

their supersti-

tious reverence for the rigid letter vi

and the dead hand

IN

THE DESERT
and
finally,

of the past;

to the Modernists

who

de-

cided that he was a self-deluded enthusiast

one who
faith.

by an historic accident gave

rise to a

workable

The
are

latter four of these interpretations are all to

is

be

found in usage today. But none

all,

actually ours.

They

even the

latest, past pictures. We have to make

OUT own.

Nor

is

that

all

required of us; rather each

one of us has to make his own. Contemporary knowledge (anthropological, psychological, psychophysical) is far greater and less co-ordinated than at any past
time. In the light of such information each of us has
to try
spirit
its

and describe to himself how he

believes a great

would behave while seeking to discover

for itself

message.

"Man imputes

himself," "Studies of the

it

Christ are studies of the student." So

must

be.

But

often the very inadequacies of a sketch have been the

occasion whereby a real master was roused to

make

an adequate rendering. So

may

it be.

VII

DIALOGUE

IN

THE DESERT

The

speaker in this dialogue, "the lonely

is

voice of the desert/'

the Christ of the

Three Temptations as outlined in the Gos"dark echo" of pels. The second voice is the

and reaction from

inspiration.

Jesus'

own

authentic

He who

said to Peter,

"Get thee

behind me, Satan!" does not seem to have

been one

who would have needed

to see in

the desert an incarnate Tempter. That spirit

of deceit spoke in his

own mind and was

an-

swered there, although in the closing section

it is

allowed also to find actual voice and

form.

The

"lonely voice"
is

the

first

heard in this
type,

dialogue

indicated

by

italic

the

"dark echo" by roman type, and by blank

lines before

and

after.

DIALOGUE IN THE DESERT

More
whether
.

than
. .

a
?

whole

month

now

wonder

Whether

it really

helps?

sive

They say the mind becomes clear and the will pasand you can see, not only what you should do,

but things as they actually are. I wonder, I wonder: it does malce things seem clearer this intense fasting

and

different.

But, more real?

The mirage
it

loolcs
if

more

like actual

water

what would
is

look like

one was

as thirsty as

make

hungry? look maddeningly real bling toward it, half knowing it was nothing, half
it

one

Would

not craving then one would go stumstill

A
striving to believe it

DIALOGUE

was

life.

Vision comes to the

fasting they say

is

that

all?

Should not the cleared

by

uninfested by man, unstained eye see this desert world, but as it was before life, not as empty and desolate,

man

fell

and nature was ruined

as

God

sees it

still,

But the mirages dazzlingly beautiful very good? shimmer too fiercely: one must Iceep one's senses
Icnow steady, clear. It's hard to

whether you are not

Better concentrate on giddy when you watch them. that piece something nearer, in the middle distance the last month as the which IVe watched of
valley

mountain shadow swings across it and one knows another day is over. That is steady and yet moving. J will watch and wait.
.
.

There
devils are

too, though, vision gets confused, the dust

moving up and down. That one was so faint thought it was eye strain which made the slope the

other side

become vague. This next one

really the

Bedouin are right they are like angry dancing dervishes "His angels winds: His messengers a flash" are they,
could they be the efforts of some defiant force to materialize and hurl itself in physical rage against the
solitary

which dares

trespass

on the

desolation where,

banished, they wander seeking rest and finding none?

IN

THE DESERT
is as

No, the middle distance

rage
horizon. Fasting
first

confusing as the mithat

is

is

a test

clear.

You

must
this

ing.

you can keep steady and quiet under throbbing strain and hold against this deadly sinkI must look at something quite close and definite,
see
if

in the cool shadow.

These small stones

I'll

will

do

hard

and smooth and

There
us.
its
is

plain.

keep looking at them.

clear

symbol of the patience

in the river

God

requires of

IVe seen them

flow.

Once the

river, cool and fruitful,

worn down by years of must have

passed here

long ago only the Creator knows These stones were worn smooth and left here until

how

every tree, grass

and shrub vanished and they alone

remained baked by the incessant sun shaped by river and then baked by sun like the small cakes the Essenes used to give us at

sundown

tasted after the day's labor.

they There, the stone has

how good

cheated one with a pretense of bread, as the air with its mirage cheated one with an illusion of water. Can't

one escape

illusion?

Even
up by

in the desert
appetite, like

must dream

and

fantasy, stirred

mud,

pollute

the clear water of vision!

Would one

be

let starve to

death? If I became too

weak and couldn't

cross that stretch of sand, the belt

DIALOGUE

down the long rocky ground, the ridge and then go to the river, back to the cornslope which leads at last
>f

the granaries, would help come? There's not a bird in that hard blue sky: yes there is one, a vulturefields,

he's

no

giver,

no messenger
to

he's a reminder that

my

fear has sufficient

to

him

it's

keep him posted. Well, ground if I hope. God feeds him I suppose, and
but

starve then

His other creature would be fed

poorly

Even now that foot

like his

of

mine on the stone

is

getting

claw

the foot so lean; the loaffike stone so

firm

and plump. Wouldn't He, who feeds the carrion is seeking His bird, feed man, when this His child
at least
till

way

the

way

is

found? Then

this

poor

the fragments exposed body, gladly the birds may pick and scattered, in one of these ravines where man never

comes.

Or

it's all

the same (the birds will get their

catchprovender) swinging on some wayside gibbet; to them all they ing every idly curious gaze "nothing while to the birds. that pass by" but still worth

Surely he feeds the hungry

if

they have faith?

The

stone that looks so like loaf

the substance could be

changed in a moment, and there would be sweet

IN

THE DESERT

strong bread: under the rocklike crust full nourishing

crumb. They say

absolute faith
if

God

needs only to be asked with

you are doing what

He

wills

and

He provides
bread.

makes stones that so look

like

bread be

Why

not?

But if bread was

have brought
it

to have

been provided, birds would

it.

an angel fetched

You must demand

right to

it

command.

It

be importunate. You've the won't happen unless you do.

The People were fed magically in the wilderness. YouVe an equal right to the same provision. Indeed this is just a test case to see what you are made of. You know why you are here. The ordinary life
wouldn't do for you. Getting and spending they lay waste their powers. That's not the way for spiritual
aristocrats.

Your family

is

naturally aloof.

You belong

where you walk apart from man and with God. You're here frankly and clearly (Now
to the desert

you see your mind

is

clear)

to see

whether that meet5

A
to be

DIALOGUE

ing

you, for you know are His Son and a father doesn't quite clearly that you or let him, earth when he asks bread give his son when he's deadbeat with starvation, fancy he sees a
is

kept

God

will

not

fail

loaf only to find it a stone

it

would be a shabby

trick

even for a cad to play on his cub. But, quite evidently, He does want you to try out it's as test you're here for your powers. That's the
clear as that

bun-shaped pebble.

You

couldn't go

on

with the Essenes.

a b ou t

You saw

waiting for

they were simply waiting something to happen that never

waiting for a sign, a lead. Yes, they're on the right tack, facing the right way that's the life no doubt. The highest life. But they are a camel train

does happen

waiting for the leader that

desert to the oases.

knows the way across the Meanwhile they wait and it can't
& radically

go on.

If a

new way
life

new way

is

not found

soon; well, they won't be let go on leading their simple arrested

much

longer. Either the world

this protected

around

them

will snuff
is

them out
lull

calm today,
this countryfire

you know,
side, right

only a

between storms

out to the desert will be under

and
go

sword in another generation 6

or they will simply

IN

THE DESERT
the
oil

used up. No one can wait forever. Hope is a good starter but only faith wins and faith that is not simply hope with a halo faith that
out of themselves
does things, creates things and no self-illusion about
it either.

Now there's
keen and
it

the point. (Yes, your

clearer.)

mind was always

trust

was never

Either your Father

works miracles for his children

who
or

do and seek
mistaken

Him

as

you have

perhaps blasphemous your Father and you have presumed. What has gotten clear as that tiny pool of water you drank from at

you been well, you've perhaps He is not

Him

as

dawn and
the test

you'll drink

either

from at sundown, is the choice He is your Father and then He

provides: you ask as His loved

Son and

He

creates for

you, as

He

created, out of His love, the world at the

beginning.
this
is

then your path is plain. That's why so obviously the reason you were driven to come

And

here. souls

You were called to lead the highest and noblest among men to follow you to an ever higher life
is

to follow

past effort

you where they must attain or all their futile and must end to follow you where

they and you would forever be safe from accident and

DIALOGUE

disaster

to

here, at last,

where you will show the whole world is God's manifest recognition that this is
life

the real way, the

of creative faith, for

we and we
hun-

alone can create by faith our daily bread.

You must work

gry as you are

this miracle

not for yourself

but for others

for the sake of the

for the sake, the

new

age,

you were born

to initiate

safety,

the salvation, the triumph of the best

have lived

those Essenes to

men who whom you owe so much

you
It's

to bring their wonderful effort to fruition. But,

mustn't be afraid or be muddled in your mind.

clear
there's

no other

before you. possible choice

Here and now you must put it to the test and then forever you'll know exactly where you are. You'll be,
whatever happens, the world's one
realist.
It's

just a

"either" "or." Either simple straightforward case of God is your Father and you His beloved Son or He is

not your Father and you have gained complete sanity and insight by coming into this clear still loneliness
of the desert. If
let's

your Father then that stone take a clear concrete case that water-worn pebis

He

ble that looks so exactly like, in color and shape, a

IN

THE DESERT
baked loaf

perfectly

becomes what

it

appears to be

a real loaf!

Not much
to go
to

of a miracle, but

enough

for a living

man

on with, and enough

as a sign that

for the hard-toiling Essenes

know

you are the Leader so long

afraid, will you, to

promised.

You won't be

put your

faith to the

touchstone of fact?

plunge

that's

You have to take the why you came here. You must decide.
word

God
that

waits your decisive

it

"Command that

stone

become bread!"
lead the Essenes into a land of easy plenty

And
rich

beyond the dreams of gluttony stones into loafs? Why not then the bitter salt pools into milk
the sand into crystallized honey.

And

they and I to

settle
field

down
eating

the desert an easier acre than the corn-

and sleeping

working magic and then

skep bees and keep us as

again feasting; until

some

king, learning of our secret,

should carry us

off as

men

magicians at his court to feed his armies: we the first object of his enemies' attack; for, till we are destroyed

he

is

impregnable?

A.

DIALOGUE

courExcuses, just excuses because you haven't the You're afraid the bread won't age to stake your faith. word. at accident, outwardly it looks

change

your

By

so like bread, but

its

substance, in hard fact,

will

it's

only
it.

do stone, and nothing you can say or

change

You

haven't the nerve to

own

that!

Yes, I'm

weak and dead hungry but

still

that's

not

the real question. I will stick to that. The bread with all my body suffering and, yes, wanting
every appetite
is

fact I'm;

at this

moment

just

one demand

"food"
it

that's off the

point and I won't be drawn off

by what's irrelevant

tion,

though I drop dead. The questhe only question for my Father and so for me,
the Essenes, will

is will

men
and

(all

of

whom

are just as
their

much

His children

as I

cares a rap or plans Father, though they can't see a straw for them), will these children be better for this

He He

just as

much

power?

day

may come when He

will

answer their

desert a corngreedy cry: give them power to mate the fie/of th e jock bread when they will have such
harplenty that they will burn wheat and pour whole
vests into the barren sea.

Will His kingdom have come

10

IN

THE DESERT
On
this

then?

your argument

ft

must. Bread and

rich

righteousness are one

able

make men

and comfortrich

and they

will

be good and wise.

The

have

not been so

but wanton and arbitrary.

The
and

comfortable have not aspired but become slack

gross. I

am

desperately hungry but I should be

beaten by

my

test

and have sunk to an animal

if I fell

into that trap. I won't be caught in your clever di-

lemma. Faith demands more than you, cheap

chal-

lenger, can understand. Bread, yes, won by sweat of the brow, bread as a transitory means never as the

end. If

God
at

does not give

me
I

make
either

it

my demand there is no God or

Him up
now now

bread and the power to then that does not prove

make
test

these stones loaves

am He

not His son.

He

can

can also from these

stones raise

as easily fresh sons.

that's all

You put

the

here and

you can understand.

He

must save us
tered

or I shall die, the Essenes be scat-

and the case go by default the light will go out and His world sink into everlasting night. You think
because the sun
sets it will

never

rise again

because

you don't know that the sun

the earth. I

is infinitely greater
it

than

know

that because the sun sets

will rise

11

DIALOGUE

attendant in the sun's again, because the earth spins can man fall out of the hand of As sea of
gloiy.

easily

God

as can the earth fall out of the light

is

and hold of
they must

the sun. It

setting

now

our

lives will set:

set to rise in their fuller

power.
that,

Bread

at will?

Could man ever have

it

and not

take bread, and the fleshly life

alone can sustain, as

the end? Wouldn't the body, be sunk

spirit,

in such a heavy
life is

grown

and smothered/ This

a prelimi-

to diet nary thing. All this life man must be learning himself for another way of living. It is not easy to
learn that
distracted.
it

must demand

a drive of energy easily in the

As he grew the mouth and throat

W0 mb
must

useless there

for the life of earthly feeding

he should follow here, so

exactingly

now

in this close world

he

grow those

spiritual organs so that

he

may live
alone. If

hereafter.

Man

does not, cannot live by bread

he does he

dies.

by each creative call he grow to the full stature of that heavenly life. And if he trusts the Creator as his Father then the stone

he only truly lives made on him by his Father that

lives,

He

may be

turned into bread

but

it is

not for him, the

it

child, to dictate.

Nor

is

the choice, as

must seem

12

IN
to

THE DESERT
one who
is

a materialist, either bread

and proof of
surely not

God, or
less

starvation

and atheism. For

it is

the body, which

hard and quite as good for the Creator to make He shaped, able to live without bread

when He knows the time has come for it so to live, as it is to make that stone a loaf. While, when the soul,
so freed, has

grown

he can and

will release it
it.

from

the body cover in which he has raised

The
swered

stone can thus remain stone and

He

has an-

from

me by feeding me already. A word has come Him and my hunger is stayed. The stone, turned
would only have fed the body and then must have striven on it would have been
and then the
.

into a loaf,

the spirit

daily bread

task of feeding the soul

.

would

have

still

remained.

Now,
gift

as the

sun

sets,

the dark echo dies away. I feel

a strength rising

up

in

me. This, then,

is

my

Father's

not daily bread but bread of the coming day of the life the spirit will lead. Yet it is no farfetched

fancy or delusion. I feel my body not only freed of its craving but strong. I am breathing in a mysterious life.

As

I breathe

more deeply and

quietly

my mind

opens

to the Gloiy of the Father. I

am

radiated with His

DIALOGUE
the bread of life

and eternal strength this which He gives to me and I am to

unfailing
spirit, filled

is

give to

men. The

with this strength, no longer weighed on

by the body, instead carries the body tenderly with it. The night has come. I have seen one more step
leading to the source of
spring, lie
all

power. I will drinfc of the

I shall

down and

sleep.

Tomorrow

be tested

and taught more.

IN

THE DESERT

Dawn
Still, I

again.

The same outlook

no

revelation yet.
is

know one

thing and the worst doubt

dead.

can and does supply our needs in many a way which, because we cannot understand, till it happens, we think impossible. That dilemma,
is

God

Father and

He

which yesterday seemed so clear that I thought someone spoke it in my ear, I know now was false. There
was a third way between this choice either that stone becomes bread or God does not care for me and I die.
I

am

alive

and

I can stoop
feel

loaffike

pebble and

down and pick up that no more the desperate craving

it

which cried in

me yesterday
and

must be miracled into

bread. It can stay stone

dures without this proof, for

God stays, yes, He enHe has proved His power

spirit.

to keep the body alive directly through the

This

the true proof of His presence the only sure proof. Stone into bread would have meant that spirit
I see
is

can

persist,
is

spirit

but only because the body, without which nothing, is fed with material bread. Now, I
fed,

have been
spirit

has been fed directly by the of God. I have breathed in the eternal life and

my

spirit

DIALOGUE

so
of

it is

not

spirit,

my body's feeding which proves the reality but my spirit's power to upbear the body. It
is

proves, as naught else could, that spirit

not only

its

own

sustainer but the body's also.

It
is

What now?

clear

that

my

hunger-inspired
safe
a little

dream of making the beloved Essenes magic group raised forever above want
crude, too small a fancy divine truth. This bread of the

that was too

a material rendering of a

power

of spiritual sustenance

coming day, and growth

this

new
that

so

heaven begins here on earth this is no light to be hidden in the desert caves or only carried in the cities
covered under
a basket

shared selfishly
all

few enlightened, when

sit

among the the unnumbered peoples

No,
this is a

in night, in cold, in hunger.

for the world.

message,

good news

The

discovery that Faith can

magic desert pebbles into loaves might have served for the Essenes. To the world the revelation must be given
that there
is

man whereby he
not.

way and method now made known to can be sustained and grow spiritually
if it is

with material bread

present

without

if it is

God feeds as He will never with spectacular revelation. He guides as His immense preknowledge
16

IN

THE DESERT

can alone guide, so perfectly, so unobtrusively, with such consummate skill, that man's co-operation is al-

ways being tested up to its limit and ;ust not to breaking point. As the spinner draws the thread strongly

enough to make
never break, so

it

tense and long, sensitively enough

it shall

so that, though always under the fullest strain,

But only those

chance
a

we are guided and watched every step. who walk with God can be fully aware
the rest feel that
it is

that they are being guided

few others, that somehow things fall out so that they learn and grow. God guides and those who know they are His children, know they are guided. I
have been guided here and sustained here and now when I was looking for my next step, and thought it lay deeper in the desert, back to the Essene house in
hills by the Dead Sea, I back to the Essenes I am to go. not

those barren

am shown

it is

Then whither?|This wilderness is a dividing of the ways. He who enters it either goes on until he comes to the mount of God and God takes him or he goes back with a message he has won for the world. Even Yohanan came back. It is clear I have more to tell.
Yes, J

must return and inform the people that there

DIALOGUE

is

a real

way

no dead

ritual or formalized practice

but an actual method of being in touch, in revivifying touch with the living God. But how shall I catch their
ear? If once I can get

them

to listen

all's

well.

They

are wary,

though (and well they

authorities

Those profound
jfceep

may who Icnow all

be) of teachers!

the texts and

themselves honored and comfortable, through

traffic:

the dues of their sacred

those scornful puritans

who show how

which
lessly
is

is that goodness moral on every convention and ruthexactly exacting in every case where only generosity can

superbly unattractive

plead.

How

tell

the ordinary puzzled Jkindly

man
and

jos-

tled into unlcindness, hurried into baseness

vio-

lence

real way, a
is

Low now catch his ear and tell him there is a new path open to God and that this way
his harassare,

one, not of weary formalism or harsh precision but

way to reality and happiness for him and ing and harassed neighbors whoever they
a
ploited.

wher-

ever they are? All the words are so worn, debased, ex-

The

people's attention

must be

arrested

ifs

the only way.

Somehow

they must be struck}

They

are dulled

and stupefied and,

after all,

have

18

IN

THE DESERT

played so largely into the very hands which have tricked them. blame the official church and also

Why

the austere nonconformists. Here

tradition

is

the world's wisest

effort to bring
is

and the modern man's best

that tradition directly into practice. If one

perfuncformalized and the other an exhibition of shaltorily

low

whose fault is that? The people kind of performance. They could only be wanted this impressed with appearance. One can't honestly censure the showing off though one may wish it was
scrupulosity,

more than
however
as

dressing

up and

face deep.

What

is

clear

is that if you have something to give them have you must leam how to put it up to them. you Well, it's out of the question that you will be let have

and then only if you're dead at heart and no longer want to use it well and for them. You'd have as poor a chance of
any
official authority, at least for years,

being

you what would you get? An uneasy grudged respect from the ordinary man, who'd dislike you all the more because he was ashamed of disliking
got in with

let in

with the "unco guid."

And

even

if

them

so intensely holiness
it

holiness as

you demonstrated

and he couldn't deny.

DIALOGUE

No, you've got to demonstrate,

in quite another

way

a demonstration

original, daring,

because

it

will

have to show you are on a new line and yet it will also have to show your line starts from the same rock
of the one true religion
a

new

start

as all the great

prophets have made. You must throw down your challenge so they can't mistake it or overlook it.

Where?
show He

There's only one place.

You must

start

your new message in the Temple. There

recognizes you and
if

God

will

you

receive divine rec-

ognition there, there only will priest and Pharisee have

to accept your credentials.

there

think of the effect

While the people massed on them think how the

news would spread out

out the countryside

like a

speeding ripple throughthroughout the world "the

promised prophet has come!" The frost would indeed be broken and a spring tide of new hope would run
over
hill

and

valley

from

village to

town. At a stroke
place.

half your mission

would be done. You know the

you

If s curiously

like this crag

are standing on.

You
be

remember climbing up
on

there,

when you used

to

hanging round the Temple, until you could crouch

that parapet and look sheer

down

into the dense

20

IN

THE DESERT

huge area carpeted with the crowd, that crowd from all over the world, all come to seek life
court, its

and who of them finding

ing round, driven, shouted

it?

Poor penned sheep

mill-

at, fleeced.

to call out, "Stop, stop, look, listen!"

Didn't you wish But then you

yourself didn't

know what
their

to tell

them

You

couldn't

then even catch

poor blind interest for a

moment.

Now
ing
all

you

see

them
all

again.

There they are

there, all

yet, at

this very

moment

massed

blindly seek-

looking for water

your post, your coign of vantage, here's your taking-off point, here's where and how the great news can and can only be launched

mirage and stones. Now and how to give it them. T?his

and bread and being given you know what they need
is

and

start, as

the dove out from the ark, to a world

now

to start afresh.

You

did well to leave the amiable

Essenes to their

their dying routine, pointless toil,

dying because they have cut themselves off from life. Your message is for nothing less than the whole eternal People. See, there as at the foot of this
cliff,

there

spread the dense thousands of your race to

world's destiny belongs,

whom
21

the

who

are already, as was

prom-

DIALOGUE

teeming as the sands every grain down there a human being a face turned up waiting your mesised, as

a harvest of white faces ripe for you to reap. This is a crisis in the world's history. Here's the mosage

ment when God, who has

rested after creation, at last

moves, intervenes, recognizfes by His support that you are His new word and message to men. The path you

have patiently trod has led there can be no doubt to

you have been guided

this spot.

Have courage, have

faith

cast

away

fear

here and

now you
hesitate.

launch your message to the people.

You

can't

You know

that those

who
is

trust, their

every

step, even the least important

laid before

them,

prepared, smoothed, graduated. It was for this very

occasion that the assurance runs

he

gives his angels

exact instructions to be about your every

movement
if

and even

if

a precipice yawns in your path,

feet,

the

ground opens at your

by

their power. So, as His waiting people, sweep

you pass serenely on, borne God's ambassador, go down to

down from His throne

sus-

tained and supported by those attendant messengers

whose protective power is earnest of His approval. Don't shrink or you doubt God and doubt His send22

IN

THE DESERT
On, over the brink
to the

ing you

immediate

salva-

tion of the world through your gospel!

And stun them into attention? And dare God to let me fail and so try to force Him with the threat, that He Himself is discredited, silenced, by my destruction? Is this the voice of cowardice again
fear

do I

He

will let
life?

I cling to
choose, far
easy

me No

fall life

and be dashed

to pieces?

can end for me, should

Do He

more

terribly

than thus. It would be an

way out from

bears

all difficulty

and misgiving. Either

He

me

up: I appear manifestly the

man who
master of

comes from heaven

the elements
or
all

the magician

who

is

doubt

is

over, I step straight into

death and the

trial is

God to put me

stop testing

ended for good. I have forced me. This is the last time He shall
can force His hand.

under the
is

strain. I

Is that well,

that courage or cowardice?

a

And

the

poor people, they see

sent
its

man

step

down from

the sky

into their shrine. Heaven, just above their heads, has

messenger to the place which they are now irremediably convinced is the only place where God sends His word. Will that help them to understand

DIALOGUE
is

my

message? They have to learn God their narrow devotion to this place is

everywhere:

fatal to their

understanding this mission to mankind. Their pathetic that is not less fatal. belief that God is in the sfcy

As Jong as they believe that and what I should do would confirm it beyond doubt they will not seefe
for

Him

where alone

He

is

to be found, in their

own

hearts.

They
I

will remain, because of what I have done

might) more rooted than ever in their blind arrogance toward the rest of the world, their
(say

what

blind subservience to their priestly masters

who would

have them blind and narrow.

No
loaf.

that

way too

is

barred.
stair.

No
The
only

stone turns into

spirit

No
is

air

turns into
difficult,

must be

changed. Always
the eye

that

is

more hard when

dazzled.

God
To

works, but only unmistakably

the rest everything that haptrivial

to the enlightened.

proof that there is no design or overseeing. But the bread was, after all, not needed. God provided a better and in-

pens seems ordinary, common,

deed more wonderful way. So too here I refuse to drive Him to my self-chosen issue. I see, far from it
being necessary to the news I have to
tell, it

would

24

IN THE

DESERT
men
talcing it in.

stand in the way of

And

;'ust

because

they would thinlc they had accepted it, they would never afterwards be able to realize what it really

show me, as he did yesterday, His more hidden, more wonderful, more effective way. I will not dare Him but trust Him. That is my answer.
meant. No,
will

God

I will

now go

back to

my

resting place.

He

has again

He

taught me and I await His further teaching. Certainly has been with me.

And was
voice

there not another with rne

the other

was I not being asked to choose between two ways and two guides? How real that tempting practical voice was harshly definite, seeming at times al-

most
it

drown the gentle promptings which answered and which seemed to rise from an immense distance.
to
desert's silence is full of voices

The

when one
""
.

has, for

long, heard not a

Is that voice

speak to me or is it a human voice not knowing another man is near? It here in the wilderness. He must be is a man's voice
a

human word one of those who

.

madman

who

has broken away and fled here des-

perate

out

my

breaking this solitude in which I must work message, my task. I must avoid him. Poor

DIALOGUE
he would
cer-

creature, I cannot struggle with

tainly kill

him

me and

I should have
will

I will wait here

and he

done him no good. pass on. Pass on to what?

He is stumbling on into
IVe
shall

lived by

is

the deeper desert. This spring the last beyond this he must die. I

be letting him go to his death. But he's only one I have to think of a whole hopelessly crazed creature
people
untold damage. perhaps already he's done Here he is solving all the problems he created his
scapegoat.

own

But

ghastly death. He is suffering. I can't let

be letting him go to a can suffer that cry shows it he

I shall

even

if

he attacks

him stumble on to die of thirst me. God's love must make me try
?

and point him out the water. I will intercept him. He must be just abreast of the spring but it's hidden in
the cleft and he'll miss
ft.

"There "There

is

water."

is

water."

"There, to your right, in that crack in the cliff." He's coming on. He can't understand. He's quite
desperate.

happy if where all

only hates mankind and would die he could kill the last man here in the desert
else is dead. I

He

read his thought. Here then

26

IN
is

THE DESERT
me
to
I,

death for

who was

too fine to

talce

death in

great daring with

all

men
it.

am

God, carrying his word, and before die by the hand of a madman in the
vulture,

desert

and only the

and he with

delight, will

see

But what sorrow

in that face, as

it

comes nearer.

How

unbelievably he has suffered. Everything has

Man, woman, and child have fled him, from him, even the dead world here seems to him drawing away from him. Men now only want
betrayed him.
beasts run

to torture him.
is

No child in

the dark left by

its

mother

more

frightened,

Was
see

there ever such pain, sorrow,

in his eyes as he

more wretched, more pathetic. and loneliness. I

comes nearer the panichunters on the trail "God in
poor innocent"

now

striclcen

animal with his

deliver
fallen
is

Your mercy stops, he has

this

and he
help
.

down.

He

is calling for

here again but I shall be best prepared for tomorrow if I stay out longer under the stars. The
night

The

man now
and

sleeps securely in the cleft

under

my cloaJk he is
how we were
him wince
which
I felt

a child, sleeping as one.

And

I see

sent to each other.

all

As

I touched
lilce

him

his muscles paclc

stone. His arm,

27

A
was round

DIALOGUE
and then
I felt

my

neck, shut like a

vise;

that glow, I have felt pulses of before, but never in

full tide as then: it
it

broke out of

me like a
him

flood, I felt

wrap him and

me in

one wave of

vitality.

He

closed

himself up in
?

my

arms. I carried

to the cleft.

By

then already his eyes were as clear as a child's. "You've saved me/ he said. "Fm back safe. You came down
suddenly into the unclimbable pit into which I had
fallen

where I was lying only pelted by the cruel men who looked down. Then I saw you stepping down,
stair

where there was no

I thought this can't

be

true.

You
ture

could only be one of them coming

down

to tor-

me more

closely. I nearly killed you:

But on

touching you I

knew you had swept me out

of the pit

with you. "I'm dead beat and in fever and God,

forgot me,

who
I

I thought

knows when I had

food.

But

thank

Him

for he sent you

He me up, He can still this fever, and give me food; and if He chooses not, still I shall understand, for I am sane. No one
and therefore I'm
sane. If

can make

me

sane sending you into the pit to fetch

comes back from madness

28

to sanity in a flash without

IN

THE DESERT
He passes out of hell the hand of God
its

seeing as

throw-

ing open

gate."

I thought,

"His madness leaves him at

this force

I feel,

sees the force which which passes through and sees it is God/' Almost trembling I bent

me

and he

over
as

him

filled

with compassion, seeing him suddenly

God sees him. Again I felt that tide of vital warmth. He was stirring in his fever. I drew him into my arms
again. I did

not have to
it.

tell

him 'The

fever

is

gone/'

We
lieve
shall

both knew

He
I

God will do all

bow
to

sighed. "Madness: fever: I beand even hunger in the wilderness

Him/'

saw then in a

flash

the whole

way God had been leading

me

these two tremendous

days. Here, with His divine art, was all summed up. I could feed this child as God had taught me to feed.

I gave

him

a little water to drink,

still.

washed him and

told

him

to be

The intense

love

and

trust that

lit

his eyes as they followed

me

was God's proof that he

until his
thirst

too would be let live on the bread of the coming day.

Then

I gave

him more water

was

slaked. I covered his eyes with

my hands

and

told

him

to rest.

He

sighed deeply and

his body drank in rest

29

DIALOGUE

while mine surged with the life that was pouring from him and through it. After a little while I rose
told

him

to open his eyes but to

lie still.

"I have

found

the breath of life/' I told him. "It can feed the body,
if

you

will

draw

it

in as I teach you.

The

breathing of

God

is

the Bread of Life/'

We breathed in the power

around us together. At first I saw a faint wonder. Then "The Three names of the Highest J heard him sigh in health, in strength He proves His presin
sanity,

ence." After that he breathed fully and deeply

satisfied.

and was

When we
is full

were both charged

I left

him

to

sleep.
1

The

night

of the glory of God. I see

now

rny

Then this way I was taught this spiritual feeding. child is sent me and shows me at once triple revelation. Firstly, I

am

not to keep
is

it

to myself

and preach

from

may

the way to the kingdom all learn and have proof of God's power and of their
authority.

Here

Union with Him. Secondly, this is my approach and I was so anxious power and credential, about which
that I thought of daring pieces or impose

me

dash myself to on His people. I shall heal the

let
is

God to

me

insane and the sick

this

my proof of my bona fides.

30

IN

THE DESERT
is

And thirdly, my message men how to have union

soul, in body.

just this

way

of showing

with their Father and find

spirit,

themselves thereby changed and recharged in

in
I

Have

not learnt

all

now

may not

return to

wait

till

my people preaching the kingdom?! I will tomorrow. Then, if all tests seem over, I will

DIALOGUE

My

poor child

left

me

yesterday.

He

said

he must

go home
healing
all

would

not come with him and Iceep on

the other sick

even in

his village. I

and wretched that he knew, have stayed. Suddenly as I would

almost have gone some echo in the back of

said:

my mind

Is that

the way?

You

under a bushel, burying

feared rightly putting the light your newfound treasure in

the desert again, leaving all the simple suffering to stumble on to their death in the dark. Seeing, you

must now lead the

That was

blind.

true, I see.

The

voice went on:

You shunned,

too, the spectacular plunge, the levi-

which to catch the poor people's wandering eye and ear. You wouldn't be a magician
tation miracle with

any more than you'd conjure stones into

well, very good.

loaves.

Very you

You

believe you see your

way through
believe

the

first

barrier

the food barrier.

You

IN

THE DESERT
how
the body, really inspired by the

have discovered
soul which
necessary,
is

drawing on God,

may

live,

when

it is

by the mysterious drawing in of the breath of God. Perhaps you have made a remarkable psychothough
as

physical discovery. Quite likely

you are

dead honest you don't know how long it will work, or whether it is for everyone. But you are also pretty certain you see your way through the second barrier,
too

how
it

to put over your message so

for themselves,

men

will really

accept

neither bought by cheap

at

bread, as Caesar buys

them

Rome, nor by cheap

proves anything to

show
them,
their

a circus stunt which,

if it

only proves their

narrow temple prejudices,

right.

But now you have cured the maniac of madness and fever and even
narrow world notions, are
stopped his hunger you will own you gave him ordinary water to drink now you are counting on this
being your royal road to men's hearts. We'll allow you have a way open to the nervously wretched certhe sick quite probably, to the hungry even that's only half the battle. Think it out. possibly.
tainly, to

But

All day long I have been thinking

it

out to the bitter

33

A
end. That voice
helpless, those

DIALOGUE

is right.

I can touch the poor, the

lost

who

have

almost everything, those

who have almost nothing to lose. I can tell them and show them why and how they may live sane, well, rich
with eternal richness. But they are only part of the world. The rest, those who have power, wealth, aulet thority, will they

me

teach

and

heal,

and make

rich

these children? I have not been reared in courts or

lived in great cities, but I

know

there

is

a side of the

world where power

rules,

where

men dream not

of

health and happiness, not even of wealth and goods but of power only. For that dream they sell all they

have and gaining and crushing the whole world lose their own soul. So they can only hold and rule by violence: for they have no other power. Such men who
have broken the Eternal Law of Being, they then
strive

to be the enforcers of law, the imposers of order, the

executioners of justice. I hear the voice again, as lucid a wise man of the world had troubled to seek as

though

me out and tell me how best my gifts might be used

not for a desert community, not for a single people on the rim of an empire but for that whole Empire,
for all the world. I

must

in honesty let

it tell

me

all.

34

IN THE
It

DESERT
is

may

be here

advice from

God how

best I can use

the message and the

method he has given me.

as yours

There

is

no doubt a humble mind

can be

when taught and can see things as they actually are, many a narrow fanatic, puffed with pride would dash needs your himself to against facts. The world
pieces
gospel.

You

are the Realist-idealist

it

wants.

YouVe

shown you

are that,

by seeing that the Jews themselves

are only a provincial little people. Your message is for the world, not for one race let alone a sect such as

you were going to the Essenes if to the you could prove your bona fides with bread: descent of Jehovah's messenger Jews, by a sudden
the Essenes.

Now,

if

the Lord they look for suddenly coming to His temple all pat and prophetic. But these little certificates

won't give you the world, and as you, with your wonderful frankness have recognized, simply curing a number of invalids and making them happily convinced that the world is soon going to be changed into a

world of love and compassion where everyone accepts, and the whole discharges, unlimited liability well,

youVe

seen, the

men

in

power are not simply going

35

DIALOGUE
are

to laugh at

you when you do

that.

They

shrewd

enough
at

to recognize

your greatness

they won't laugh

you when you make things work by other means

than they control. They'll lynch you. You're a realist. YouVe got a power of creative love and it works wonders real wonders with the prolebecause they are good at the core; because they've been too simple, fine and pure to succeed in
tariat:

the world as
so

it is.

You

can get right

home

to

them and

you will save all of humanity that's at all savable and deserves saving. But (and it's here your clear

mind

is

won't be

going to guide your wonderful heart) you let get at the proletariat what's worse but
they, the simple distracted people
will

just as true

be turned against you. It will be they ghastly thought who will be engineered to attack you. They will be
told you are a wrecker, a self-seeker, a charlatan

and

your good deeds won't be able to catch up with the manufactured ill fame that will be sent out ahead of
you.

Now

that you have

come

to the point

where you

see you have

come

to save the masses

you mustn't, you

can't, you won't shrink from saving them. The sheep run to their shepherd, but it's not enough for him

36

IN

THE DESERT

simply to gather them round him, he must beat back and kill the wolves. It's clear you will never shrink

from

risk to yourself.

Arid look at the amazing appoare,

siteness of this

moment? Here you

gifted

to serve
this

superhuman powers. And here is mankind gathered in generation at your feet. They have been driven to
mankind.

with

real

You

immensely only want

the feet of their

Good Shepherd by

the wolves.

You

can speak to and heal the sheep the wolf does not, cannot understand. Him you will strike.

The sun
level

sets.

Look out

across the world,

its

vast

beams make an avenue from the ultimate ocean

to your feet across the vastest

Empire the world has

ever seen

your feet this evening. Emperors can rule men's bodies but they cannot enlighten and
It lies at

save their souls. Prophets

and

saints

cannot

rule.

You
do

coming here and now, by what you are, can at

both. That you, the carpenter of a
that Empire's eastern
as

last

mean village on rim should come to be called,

that

you will be, divine protector of the Empire well would have stirred any other heart unwisely

perhaps, but

how

naturally.

For surely

it is

God's

rec-

ognition that you are His beloved Son.

Your stock
37

A
has had to live quietly.

DIALOGUE

Why?
name

Because you are deall

scended from David and even now, after

generations, such
is
is

these

his

that to be of his stock

almost a dangerous distinction. Think what your famous royal ancestor would have felt if he had found

himself not king of Israel but king of hated Egypt as and of further lands well, hated Syria, hated Nineveh
so vast
like

and great that these kingdoms in

city.
is

it

are only

houses in a huge

But (and here

your real greatness, as

all

that

is

power
perial

rule in order to nothing to you) you only want to of nobility, none of an unbelievable height serve have understood. Your your royal ancestors could of sacrifice is supreme. You can take the im-

diadem and

feel it only a

back

free to

wield not scepter and sword but

burden and long to be chisel and

it is

adze. You're right, you're wise.

You know

a price,

and you pay it gladly. Just because you prize calm and quiet, just because you know the value of love and gentleness you are so
you must pay for
others,

great that

you

are not going to indulge yourself in

these things.
captives free

You

are going to pay the price to set the

the price of being king, of sacrificing

38

IN

THE DESERT
feelings, of taking the
if

your sensitive and noble

crown

and the majesty, you who,

you cared for your own taste rather than for saving men, would be meek the price of being the soldier saint, who goes from his

heart's luxury of sweet

communion with God, down

to his

to the battle where

he knows that no violence

own

feelings

is

too great a price to win salvation for

that a

others.

He knows

mawkish gentleness

is

a fatal

selfishness

and that the

man who,

for fear of a spot or

two on the

fine record of his scrupulosity,

won't right

a vile wrong by violence is no true self-forgetful Savior. He's only a Pharisee and has no real love of

man.
'You see
that.

You

see

how you

are placed

man

who

has insight into both worlds.

save this world by understanding

saved:

You are how alone

its

going to it can be

by understanding

how

to use

nature,
it

by

understanding the actual means whereby

alone can

be
as

altered.

You

are going to link ideals with reality

before.

no one has done

You

are going to recognize

both and equally that the kingdom of heaven must come here and now the time has come, but also that

Heaven can only be on

earth

if

earth,

which

is

physi-

39

DIALOGUE
and made

cal,

and men, who are

in bringing

earthly, are ruled

obedient by physical means.

is

on earth

God is in heaven: man God down to earth you, the

hand hold out the
with
lovely
will

mediator, will with one

vision of universal love

and with the other you

it

make

the dream

come

true by backing

irresisti-

ble force.

For those who are gentle, simple and wounded and

who
and

can, as could that poor maniac, look

at

upon you

once recognize, because of their great need, that you are indeed their only Savior and healer, to

them you
crafty

are indeed the

Good

and the

cruel, the violent

Shepherd. But to the and the dark who do

not want you and would keep the weak and broken

from coming to you

these are the wolves: against

is

them the shepherd

understand

implacable.

irresistible violence

and

to

They can only them you must

and must because you love the mass of mankind who are the wolves' victims you must and will be
the scourge, the dread invincible destroyer, the judge, the executioner, their utter destruction.

There can be no terms between you and them. You must wrest the kingdom from them and by coming

40

IN THE

DESERT

here on earth you have shown you accept the task and will beat them on their own ground with their own

weapons.

It is

God's

will.

He

has brought, through

laid it at

Caesar, the whole world

as

one unit and

miracles when your feet. You know He does not work His servant can do the further work. He creates the

opportunity

this

world Empire.

He

then ordains

that you be born at the

solidated,

new at this moment at unity of mankind, which brims at this moment wash your your feet, as the sun's rays
this
feet, as

embracing all exact spot where you overlook, westward

Empire is conthe western world and at the

that

moment

the great sea surges along the coast of the

Holy Land.

And
areas.

look eastward, from where you stand at the

focus of time and

on the watershed of the

earth's

As night comes on and the sun of the west sinks, look at the stars rising to beckon you east also the
East
is

equally yours.

The Magi, who,

at your birth,

came because the

East as

stars told

much

as to

them you belong to the the West: the Magi are holding
the Persian
for

the Eastern Empire

you to claim.

Come,

take the kingdoms of the world, the power

and

DIALOGUE

the glory for they are yours, at the rightful price that

and healer, you recognize. You are not merely prophet All this is yours, if you will be but above all a king. brave enough to recognize reality and shun deceitful the easy bedreams, the drugs of illusion and fancy,

and your detachment, that you can your ineffective innocency preserved, on a mountain uplifting people, praying and
lief

that the world can be saved

stay

the gentle and disappointed, preaching, and not only the weak and the ill will listen, but the iron Emperors,
of gold will also obey. Pharaoh would not let Israel go till the the firstborn. If Moses had so to plagues finally killed do less? He only strike, can you, against greater foes,

the soldiers of

steel,

the immovable

men

wished for the people to be let go you are going to make the Pharaohs themselves submit, or you have
failed.

yours because the first great captain who has your ideals will found the kingdom of God on earth. Look how close the Maccabees went to doing
All this
is

so.

Issac
all

became

Judas

had he been as noble as would have gone well and the kingdom
corrupt:
spread.

would have

And

the Maccabees were not of

the house of David

that's

why your family has had to

42

IN

THE DESERT
The
promises of

live so quietly all these years.

God are

to your stock, your family

If

and

are all fulfilled in you.

you move, the people will follow. The magnetism which heals the maniac will consolidate the masses
astound and dismay the oppressors. You need have no scruples. Every day, don't the Romans commit some brutality which calls for Heaven's vengeance:

and many
silent.

are losing faith because

Heaven remains
waiting for you.
try

We
on

know why. Heaven

it.

is

You

alone cannot blame Heaven or

and

shift responsibility

God

has given you

power, opportunity, right of descent, strategic position. All this is yours yours to end the age-long

wrong and
scruple.

to set

up

eternal justice at the price of a

Yet you
as you.

are right;

it is

The common

a big price for a man is held back,

man
is

as

noble

tested

and

found wanting by his physical fear. He dreads defeat, torture, death. These are nothing to you. Your test
the lower could not understand. But
see
it is
I

understand and

the severest.

You have
mind

to sacrifice scruple: yes,

for a

little,

peace of

for the sake of

mankind and

of their peace forever.

more than you

love your

You must love your neighbor own matchless moral record.

43

DIALOGUE

You must be

prepared to be misunderstood, maligned,

to do apparent temporary wrong.

There

is

for

you

Great Soul only one commandment to love than you love even your own highest self/

man more

No! No/ That

upon me! there
are
t

is

is

wrong. There you are forcing a lie not only one commandment. There
love as myself but

wo man

may and must

God

and His highest law more than I love even my fellow. That must mean, it can only mean that there are some to save my neighbor. things I cannot do even

You
choice.
that,

will

in either probably perish nobly in any case, man such as you, so gifted and so selfless,

too,

you know,

as well as
will

I,

there's

not one

chance in 100 million that he

such a
is:

come

again and at

moment of world

opportunity.

The

choice then
it

perish

and save the world or perish and leave

unsaved.

I cannot do Evil that

Good may come.

Not if it means
44

the world's salvation, not even then

IN
will

THE DESERT

you soil your private moral record? It is not as if there were any other way. You know the world is real

and you must show

that your ideal
is

it

by

real acts,

by forcible behavior
is

true.

No

other choice

given you.

Your courage

not in doubt. Quite probably many that oppose you, when they see you can make your ideal work, when you succeed and rule, will come over
is

to you.

By meeting them halfway you

Their
little faith

will

win over
little

myriads of doubters
faith helped.

the Great need their poor

needs just this sign to rouse it. Their smoldering devotion requires this breath of decision to blow it to a flame. To each man

you must speak in

the

his tongue.

To

the sick healing: to

mad sanity:

to the

unhappy
idealist

ful the proof that

an
it.

powercan win, has force and

is

serenity: to the

successfully applies

Caesar himself

man,

yes,

to

be

frank, a far less gifted

is

man

know,

not

flattery

but

fact.

than you. This, you Caesar rules by accident

or rather by the decree of a god he knows not. So he

can only rule as he can. Show him you can rule as he can understand. He needs help: he needs teaching.
In his heart he knows he does not know.
to be saved.

He has
45

a soul

And when he

sees that

you have power

DIALOGUE

be your vassal. You may teach him also the way of life and with him won over your reign which has to begin with judgment will carry on in peaceful

he

will

mercy.

You cannot be
die because
in

so selfish as to let

all

these people

you are too clean

to plunge into the

swamp

which they lie suffocating and drag them out. Make this one bargain with reality and the world is yours, for this is reality, the world is thus and only recognizing
its

nature can

we

save

it.

No, the world

a shadow.

is

not in
is as

reality this: the ideal is

not

The world

much God's
is

as

is

Heaven

and His Law runs here

so here on earth.

His law of love

as in

Heaven

To

act otherwise

to betray

Him.
is

To

persuade
lie.

me

in this

way
is

is

blasphemy. It

the

supreme
illusion

That voice

the voice of the Lie which

has been from the beginning of

Time

the deadly

and

deceit.

God

is

here sustaining arjd order-

ing this world, yes, in

its worst wrongs, waiting, with the divine patience of a father for His children to

understand.

When

you

talk of realism, of the ideal

being shadow, you are denying

God and you know

it

IN
You

THE DESERT
are not so

much tempting me,

as trying, as

always have, to revolt against

Him

to banish

you His

power, to defeat His plan, blot out His creative love with the spirit of your deadly denial. Begone, you

shadow of death, you who dare say you know

the ultimate
fact.

Reality,
is

The

ultimate fact, the Reality

God, whom you can never know. I know Him Go. ... It was lite a real presence. As it argued,
saw things
as

under that deadly shadow. What common sense, what realism his words seemed. I hardly felt it was evil, it was so inevitable, so right, so decreed, and

who by fussy sfelf admiration of my was standing in the way. Now that the cloud principles
I was the person,
is

gone and the

light is back, I see

how

that

miasma

almost corroded

my soul.

But

it

shadow of
words were

my own doubt. It my own wish to serve

or bad there was
I

was only an echo and had no reality. Its very

unlimitedly, turned

into megalomaniac dreams of world power. Realism/

Whether good
fantasy/

no

actuality in such

For

moment

temptation here. I should

thought there was an actual have known, the spirit of

fulfill

self-deluding deceit could never

ise

his

dream prom-

even

if

I trusted him.

47

DIALOGUE

Shall I then return

is

from the desert tonight? There no further preparation needed and my message

requires
cal

no

organization,

no program.

It is

not a

politi-

campaign. Why delay longer choosing and planning? I can begin tomorrow morning in the first village,

with the

first

wayfarer.

The moon
for

is still

up. I

will start

now.

It is

almost as clear as day.

And

I shall

not have to wait

till

tomorrow
this

my

first

contact.

Now,

as I

can see

come down the ford. The

it

long slope to the river I quiet spreading dark water is

light.

being woken into rhythms of

crossing
in

Someone must be
an early

my

direction.

A late

traveler, or

one, perhaps wishing to avoid the day's heat.

He

will

be taking the

little

of the stream. Perhaps he

jEssenes, fleeing his

used track skirting the desert side is going down to seek the

house and

all its

pressures

and
are

distractions
asleep.

when

those

who would hold him back

Perhaps but no matter. There is no chance nor accident. It does not matter who he is; he comes

my way. He has

caught sight of rne, too.

He

is

standing on

IN

THE DESERT
He
hasn't turned
is

the river beach.

is

waiting for me. This

down the bant. He no vagrant madman. I can

is

see that by his poise.

There

resolution here

and

him whither he is going. If it is to the Essenes I can tell him of them and perhaps persuade him to come back to mankind with me instead. If not I can at least accompany him on his path. He
purpose. I will ask

may be
wants

glad of a
to

companion

in the night

and

if

he

go out of my direction a couple of miles, or go back on my tracks, why not? my way will be wherever men wander. All paths so trodden lead home
lead to God.

me

Friend, are you looking for the track

down

to the

Low

Sea and

may be

to the Essenes?

The

Essenes!

Yes, I

know

the way: I have lived there.

So you've

lived with the Essenes!

Do you know them?

49

A
Yes, and what's

DIALOGUE

more the

light's

good enough for

me

to

know you

too.

How do you know me?

They
certainly don't give

you much

to eat.

You're

a deal thinner than

used to see you and older. But one doesn't forget that brow and those eyes. It's the family mark and stamp, though with you the die

when

you

has bitten right through. That's political capital like. No need for banner, throne and diadem

if

if

the authenticity's there in the living image.

What

are you

meaning?

have you been skulking down by the Dead Water? We've been on the lookout for you for

Why

we've been watching you. And you were shaping well. We've got our eyes everywhere. And you were at the top of our list. You can't be so

months. Oh,

yes,

up-in-the-air as

not to

know

or notice that!

Why

the

Fox and the Procurator Wolf aren't watched more carefully than you. We've always someold Herodian

IN

THE DESERT
their trail, waiting, like a fish-spearer, to strike

one on
the

moment they move into striking distance. We know where they are going before their gatekeepers are told. And youVe had your trailer too. You're observant

couldn't not

be with

those eyes

you're

known to be we've reports from our informers we note everything. Yes, you're no fool if you were you'd be no use to us, even being who you are. We don't want a figurehead, but you've got a head and the figure, the cast and the mind in the cast and that's the combination and we mean to have it.
you Icnow so much about me why didn't you know where I was and what I was doing?
If

Simon misled
the

us

good

fellow,

one of

us,

up to
you

hilt, but, as you're

not one of them you won't be

only a Galilean.

offended

when

I say he's

He

said

were on the run. The Party's been watching you since

at twelve you gave your down-at-heels parents the
slip.

One

of us reported

how

you, only a kid, were asking

those old badgers and jackals of the

Temple

questions

they didn't like

stirring up those old ground hogs.

51

DIALOGUE

Yes, we've associates that can go right into the High Priest's circle, just as we have agents in the Governor's

domestic quarters and watchers in Herod's bedchamber. So we knew that for long you'd been going in our direction. only had to wait and you'd come

We

to us:

we

needn't fetch you.

I

You were
say,

therefore only reports

under

slight surveillance.

Simon who

for Nazareth told that

using pretty freely

self

he had heard you had been Party language. He went over himjust to

from Capernaum

slow, tell

told

how

drop a hint to you to go you to wait, and see if you were ready to be ready we are and he found you gone. Well
cell

the Party

decided that was

it

all

to the good.

As
re-

soon as you came back

ported to headquarters

was decided when

you should be told and could

join up. But you didn't come back. We knew that you must be somewhere down about here you'd been last

reported making for the desert. So finally

it

was de-

cided

should go and look for you.

Who

are you?

Never you mind. Names are nonsense and a danger-

IN

THE DESERT

ous nuisance in an anonymous order. I've a dozen for my different posts one when I'm a "Roman Imperial Irregular"!

one when I'm an earnest Pharisee

a blade with the
I

and a
dians
I

third

when I'm

young Hero-

and so on. And

am

each of these parts

when

play each of them!

What
Wait

do you want with me/

a minute: we'll

come to that soon enough. It's sufficient now that I can make you an offer, a firm one and am going to make it.

What

is it?

stand

We'll have to go back a bit so that you can underit. You're a lucky young fellow. If ambition

played any part in our cause which it doesn't I'd be envious of your luck and chance or destiny or the way inevitable history has cast you for your role. I

know you anywhere. In the little while everyone will know you everywhere though you may be precious hard to find! So really we didn't mind your
said I'd

53

DIALOGUE

being behind the scenes for a moment. But there's behind the scenes and behind the scenes, or being

behind the scenes there are places which are strategic and places which are just off the map. You mustn't,
then, stay any longer out here.

We've

got plenty of

hideouts for you right at the center. Often the most hidden place is right inside the hollow boards that

make the platform

blood-royal

of a throne. You're of the real

all

while

these others

what

are they?

The Chief
thority

Priests are just Trustees

whose whole au-

comes because the People believe they are

waiting for you. Herod, of course, is simply the Roman puppet and Pilate's authority runs just as far as a

Roman
Greek,

javelin

can

be

flung.
If

Everyone,

Hebrew,

Roman, knows that

the People rose there

wouldn't be a
hours.

Roman
is

or an Herodian left alive in six

solid

The country

behind

us.

We
is

know

it.

We've worked
train laid.

at it for years.

The mine

packed, the

What
The

sect are

you talking of?

Its

Zealot organization!

whole system

is

now

54

IN

THE DESERT

complete. As Fve shown you, we have our intelligence, a perfect web all over the land. have our courts

We

and

secret justice

and executions more and

certain than

the Roman's.

We have our shock troops, men of steel

stick at

who

take their orders implicitly

nothing

to see

them through

to the last jot of the letter

and
can

the last drop of blood

loyal
strike

men one hundred

efficient.
like.

per cent

and one hundred per cent

We

down almost anyone we

Our long

knife

hangs over Herod's dreams and makes the Procurator's wife have nightmares. But just getting an individual
here and there
isn't

enough.

We mustn't by random
I kill

shooting unmask our ambush till we have the enemy altogether in it. We're indifferent to individuals. I
don't hate either the wolf or the fox

them

like

vermin. We're out to smash an organization. And in the only way. So it all turns on a concerted rising. The
People, I've said, are ready, the organization of the

Party has

made them ready and is itself ready to pass them down the word. The hour is just going to strike.
one piece is not lacking, no we've got that ready too but needing to be moved into and there the People place; a cornerstone, a coping

Only one

thing,

55

A
will stand

DIALOGUE

the tide

and oppression will slide off from them as from a well-reared breakwater. The People
of themselves,

must have a Leader, one

Royal Race.
I

one of the

am

not such a king. I do not wish to have a

crown.

You need not

trouble yourself about that.

You need

have no shrinking from receiving the masses' homage. It isn't offered to you but to the idea of the sacred
people incarnated in you. You are going to stand for the Great Comrade, simply; the man who steps out
first.

They'll see themselves in you. You'll be really

their chief Servant.

I have, out here,

had bigger dreams than

that.

Then you have been

was
right: I said

thinking along these lines I

off to

you had gone

think things out

Beside

my

dream, what you

offer is

only a provin-

cial fancy.

IN

THE DESERT
it

Well, have
perhaps and,
turnover.

as

you

will
it

better to take large views

who knows,
is

might well lead

itself.

to a

world
you'll

Rome

none too sure of

But

anyhow, here. Here and here only is your opportunity. You're less than a nobody anywhere else. Here you have a
start,

see, if you're at all practical, it

must

peculiar topical value.

That Davidic look

don't

know

if

may

you have the practical cunning of be all the better if you have. But

Jesse's
I

son

do know

you have the appearance of the Hero-King. And that's what we want. We've had reports, too, that you can
speak, can hold people, grip them.
It's

a gift, that
else

crowd magnetism. You may have nothing

well,

we can
quacies.

substitute for all your other possible inade-

We
in

can get together a

all

staff for

you that

will

guide you

practical

affairs, if

well can, just the inaugural appearances

you make, as you and speeches.

So

if

you want to go
in the

far or if

you

are content to stay

Number One

homeland, doesn't really matter.

We
now
must

can leave that for later discussions. Here and

it all

comes

right

down

to the

same thing
is

you

start here,
itself.

whether your aim

Jerusalem or

Rome

57

DIALOGUE
as

aim at something as far above beyond Nazareth or Bethlehem.

I

Rome

Rome

is

Look

here,

is

this

sun struck or

moon

magniloquence or have you been struck in the desert, have you been

seeing visions?

I have

been seeing

visions.

Leave them now. This

you.

is

a firm offer I'm bringing

No more

firm than rny faith.

What's that?

That the means you are using

that

will never establish

Kingdom

of Messianic righteousness for

which

the People long.

We're

practical:

we have

to be: there

is

no other

way: we've tried everything else. We're the one party that can really do something against the tyranny. All

58

IN

THE DESERT

and compromise. We do neither and we alone can and will strike home.
the others only talk

Yes, you will be able to strike.

You

are singlewill

minded. You have

faith of a sort

and you

move

mountains. Because of you the Holy Mount Zion will be literally dismantled and its crest thrown down into
the very valley of
leaving hardly

Hinnom. The Temple one stone on another of

be cast out and carried

will vanish
all

its

vast

buildings

the sacred vessels and objects, too holy for

off as

men

to see will

common
hive has

loot to a

Roman
to

triumph; the Holy People become a

swarm unable

work and

create because

its

been shattered and gone up in flames. Yes, that is more faith than Sadducee and Pharisee and Herodian
all

together could

summon. But because you wholly

lack love

you nothing it will utterly defeat your purpose and frustrate your courage and
it will profit

devotion.

Then
you are

you're a defeatist
called on,

you refuse to help though

though you are needed.

59

A
Yes, I refuse

DIALOGUE
price.

and I know the

At
is

this

moment

in this dust I

know where your mind

and

where your hand. You said truly I am a king and Icings who won't come to the thrones held out for them are
too dangerous, I Icnow, to be left at large. I

am

a king

because I have the royal discernment. I read your mind as a iking must. You are thinlcrng at this moment,

"Why wait? Better now/"

of your long Zealot

and your hand is on the

hilt

Icnife. You pause at that. Why not back with an adequate report: that you told the go

Party's secrets to the

man

called

on to

serve, that

he

refused service

only efficient

and so you closed the matter in the way, liquidating a life which had become

an obstacle, Jcnowing too

much and

refusing to act as

required on that Jbiowledge?

Yes, you are a king, right enough. That's the kingly

mind
killed

read a subject's thought. But I'd have you none the less had you only the king's into

sight. I can't,

because you have the king's heart as

I've
it

well. I

know men.

doesn't cost

me

been organizing all my life. It never has even an extra pulse

beat to strike out a

life

which

fails

to serve the

Cause

60

IN THE

DESERT
if

Who
itself.

dies

Israel lives!

But

I can't strike at Israel

Then you Icnow my words and way

No: No: they
all

are right.

can't be.

For then

all

my

life
is

our

sacrifices

...

all

the blood we've shed

vain.

And
to

we've had to be tough and we will have to be tougher: we've only begun the killing. I don't want

be

lily-livered or a false apologist saying that

is

the

struggle in itself
I will

nice or noble or in any

way

decent.

be honest and face the price we pay. But must pay it. There's no other choice. have

we
al-

We

ready paid a heavy first installment, however, too heavy to wipe it out as simply a bad debt, a false and it would have to be if start. It can't be in vain

you were

right.

Then why not

great ;ar which
sacrifice

Jail

me.

It will

be only one more

small step to the great goal, one

more drop

in the

must be

filled to

the brim for the blood-

which you say our Father in Heaven, the Supreme Ruler of the Earth requires.
61

DIALOGUE

I'm simply not a good enough to do it You're wrong and Party member to be able call may be I know little about Him you easily Father you will wreck our Cause you could.
I

can't kill you.

Then you should

a

kill

me. I shan't
is

resist.

Anyhow,
to

man who

has fasted forty days

fit,

not a
.

difficult exe-

cution for one

fed and armed

and used

the task.

Don't remind me. You know

into the heart
as

that, too.
is

You

see

long as there
I

a corner of it

not

yet turned to stone.

task.

always hated that necessary

it

And

so I always did

myself just to harden

myself, and be,

a false

by each execution of a weakling or member, more certain of my own strength

cried
I

and devotion. Each time they

worse, died with

dumb
now

courage,

mercy or, had cut knew

I

for,

myself

off further

from any

return. That's

why

Fm

in

the key position I

hold. That's

why

you know
this
ulti-

it_l

Was
62

sent after you with this offer

matum.

JLJC1J1*

JLf

JC.

Jl

JR.

Why should
gerous?

you spare

me when
I

you were able to

say,

deny mercy to them, when

am, you

more dan-

You may wreck

might,
if

our Cause

don't strike,
surely

but you might you come over; and then we

succeed. Til take
that chance that
is

might
the

much more
It's

we might

risk.

too big not to take

experience might
I'll

show you our way

I

the only way.

risk

my

life

be

right to put

am risking it. If they knew, they'd me out instead. Ill wager my life
to us and, with you, we'll win.

that you'll

come

No,

I will never to

come

to you.

You must, you

will

come

me

and to

Him

that sent me.

Never!

Never
which

is

no word for men. That

is

the one

word

God

Himself will not speak For

Eternal, the Ever.

He refuses

for always open and waiting

He is the to foreclose. He remains His child to return. He

63

A
will waft, if

DIALOGUE

man
to

chooses, to the

end of Time so that

we

shall

come

Him

at last.

That's only your private theology.

If

there

is

God
is

then either

He

works only through us and

we must
or

work

as

we

can, as

He

alone permits
I

us,

He

far too patient to

be endured.

care for

men and

their

immediate

suffering.

And

so you

Jcill

and must go on

killing

them.

You
life.

reign by terror

and death to

give peace, trust,

and

won't wrangle with a lawyer king. I've failed to execute but I need not fail to dismiss and banish.
I
I

refuse to listen to treason.

its fair

mouth, with

stop your with one clear treacherous words,

And

I will

you to consider, a statement of fact I know men and because I know your type is very rare as a matheI have you. I'll tell you, as clear
statement for
spared
matical calculation
all inevitable, that's

for history

is

all

necessity
I

it's

why

know and why

is

have to

act as I

do

I'll tell

you what

going to happen to

into the world. you. You're going back

Yes, I have found

my

message and
are the

am on my
I

way

to

tell

the People.

You

first

have met.

am

Good; so I can tell you about others like me, for I one of the People whom you'll have to meet and
will

who
find

want

to

know what you

just indifferent.

are

up
'

to.

You'll

most people

They're too busy

or too harassed to go and hear any organizer ex-

Most

cept for a casual few minutes. But a few will stick. of your people will think you crazy or swollena carpenter's son in Nazareth setting up as
hills

headed

a teacher while just south over the

we have
you

Jerusalem
scribe

itself

trafEc-jammed with every kind of

and

scholar!

But one

or

two
it,

will take to

just because you

are, they take

one of them

boy against the world. You'll have a little inside group then one that will hang on, listen and learn, whom you can instruct, indoctrinate.
their small-town

Yes, there

must always be a teaching

may, to give

for those

who

would

learn all that they

their lives to

spread the word of Life.

will travel

Very

well: your little

group

with you

65

DIALOGUE
what I'm

and grow. Then

telling

and

here's the point of

ness,

busiyou probably someone who really means someone our organization may have overlooked,

will join

your gang. He'll be an outsider, pretty cerbecause you're of his village tainly. He hasn't joined and district He's joined because he wants something
definite done.

He

won't be an enthusiast
full

all

flushed

with your fine words,

to windy content with your

telling stories. He'll

clever little illustrations

efficient,

and

be

businesslike,

an organizer.

You

think he would look after the funds?

Yes, he might very well if you ever had any while the rest looked after the phrases, of which there'll man your one true He'd be a be
aplenty.
practical
find.

And I'm

counting on that

man

to prove

my

He'll win you back reprieve has been right policy. over to the Party. You'll join us together and bring

the north. along, too, the best part of

No;
not.

Do

must disprove your wishful thinking. He not spare me on a false prophecy.

will

66

won't spare you at least the truth. Maybe he won't bring you over. But I'm content For if he
I

Then

doesn't bring you over, I foretell, for

tell

know men,

you, he'll turn you over.

The

first real

man you

jet outside

your

little

mutual admiration Galilee gang,

that
"he
ie'11

man will see through you to the Cause. And moment you show a sign of failing the Cause
denounce you.

Betray his leader and friend?

That's the kind of sentiment which plays into the lands of defeat. He's the only really loyal one of the

vhole bunch. For he can give up a sentimental f riend-

one misguided man as soon as it stands in the vay of the service and deliverance of all. That's true courage, true service. Do you want to place yourself
;hip to

ibove Party criticism?

;on
!f

To make
to the

more than devotion

just

loyalty to your perCause and 'the People!

you do, you're

a tyrant in disguise seeking

)ack stairs to a throne.

Betrayal

is

betrayal by whatever

name expediency

nay attempt to disguise it

DIALOGUE
that man's quiet

Mere casuistry! History will approve

calculated heroism.
really brave

He

will

men. So

I'll

be one of the very few leave you to him. And I've

You'll know him, David's prepared his work for him. Son, when you see him. You'll know perhaps before

he

does, for

he has

to

you have insight. I've put you wise and learn and decide painfully. You'll know
positively the last

the choice he's sent to offer you

offer.

when Good-by, and one last word, remember he turns you over, because he can't, he's failed to turn
be turning will then you over to something beside which this seem to you truly a misericord!

you back to us and your

clear duty, he'll

With
among

that I

saw

his long Jcnife flash in the

gloom.

He waved it

as a farewell

and

his dark figure lost itself

the dark trees by the river.

of

thoughts has found actual voice and form. That was a real man with a firm and

So the dark echo

my

sharp
Jcnife.

offer, as

firm as his
declined.

hand and

as sharp as his

And I have
he

He

can sign

my death

war-

rant

has, with the non-saving clause that I

submit

within the stated time. I

am

given one

more chance.

68

Quite

easily

he can throw in
will

enthusiast

who
plot

my path the cold-blooded be the trigger to fling me to my

I see
it is
it.

death.

The

is cast.

a real choice I

have

taken here, and I have taken

To

the Nationalist
is

Zealot as to the Sadducee and Pharisee, the answer

the same, No.
I see

now my

path. I have taken the three steps,

to a clearer height. First, I

each leading

me

know

that

not to a sect of eremites but to ordinary mankind: And I know that I have a method revealed

my mission
to

is

me

will

common the eternal life even now

whereby these

people
a

may

live if

they

way

of living

each day they

may grow

until they see that here

whereby and

now

Heaven, the Kingdom of the Father where the daily struggle for food and cover will cease to be
is

their over-mastering anxiety

and compulsion
life

where

they will realize their eternal

in the love which brought

in each other, united

forth

them

and gathers

them home

again.

Then

have learnt that these sim-

ple people are not to be startled into attention by

spectacular tricks.
will

What I have to teach must, can, and

is

be accepted by them because, in their souls they

they need, what
the reality and the
es-

know what

A
sential in all teaching of religion
after the living

DIALOGUE

their spirit' s seeking

God whom they must worship in spirit and in truth. And these two steps culminate now I see in this third which I have now taken. I am sent to no sect, however high; to no nation, however chosen. I am
sent to
all

appeal of

mankind with nothing but the universal love and with the life that such a liberating

love makes possible. I

am

sent not merely to the sim-

ple and the defeated, but to the clever and the successful and the desperately devoted fanatics also. They are
all,

as I

am, children of God, needing the eternal

life;

and they can attain this only if I can show them the power and triumph of a love which can heal the sick,

make

sane the possessed,

make

serene and

happy the

wretched and the dying and those whom the world believes have lost all. This cause can alone win, for so,
only,

may

the veil between the temporal and the

and man again walk with God. I am the Son of God and the Son of Man because this
eternal be lifted

Power

focuses

now

in

me

so that I

may

lead

all

that

would follow through the temptations

through, into the light. I go to lead the
of

I have gone whole People

Mankind,
7

as

Moses led

his people, through the Sea

IN THE
of Illusion

DESERT
and the
tides of passion

onto the firm earth

moment we will cast aside the dream that on these tides we can have any rest. I will show them where their true home
of God's world which will be revealed the
is

open welcoming them, I

a bridge, pass over
it,

will tell

them, 'This world

is

As the sun

set,

but build no house upon it/' hours ago, I saw the world of all the

empires stretching away at my feet. I have refused the earthly crown and the temporal conquest, though, in
the hours of doubt, I saw
tunity of space

how
at

I might, in this oppor-

and time,

once have headed an

organized society meting out justice to the oppressor,

and then have launched a

religion of inspiration

and

the sword which could have swept the world, coursing

down
linked

the empty arteries with which imperialism has

up the world's peoples

the night deepens and

as

new wine

races

through a thirsty frame.

Now as
present

all is

hushed and the

see as

widely

moment of action is stilled, I would down time as I have seen over space. I

myself

may well fail. Further, my who would spread it, may have
more
tragic

faith, in the hands of those

a worldly success far

Still

than

my personal failure.

the voice of

71

DIALOGUE

my
is

Father will be speaking to all who will hear Him. The faith in His love will not fail, no, not if my faith
as

mooted

as I

...

no, not

if after I

have been

and worshiped with the lips of Emperors and my word there arises message from the Father made of no effect,
from
succeeding world prophet, who, afraid to be thought a failure will listen to the false voice and take to the sword. Then such a faith may
this desert the

sweep away the sham which

to shatter.

will

be called mine and

destroy also the Persian Magians

And my

church?

Rome was too wealc Hemmed in and cut off

with sterilizing bitcall themselves mine
for differing about

from the

Spirit of Life, disputing

terness over the letter,

will torture

men who

and

kill
is

one another

who

J am. Such

to be the outward fate of

my

ad-

venture.

Dare I then go on?

moment I may see as my Father sees. He Icnows His own and those to whom I am sent I shall gather to Him. I am no prophet of the sword nor one who appears blazing in the slcy. I am to lead men
Yes, for at this

through this world to my Father's h'ngdom. J go to indifference prepare a place for them. God's apparent
72

IN
is

THE DESERT
us,

indeed His patience. Each one of

though

it

take

to the Age's End,

must come of

his

own

free choice.

God is Ever. Therefore man may not say Never. At this hour I am part of the Eternal Patience. I will do and suffer as it decrees. I am content so to serve. Always
apparent world, interpenetrating it, is the Presence of the Creative Love which sends supreme
this

behind

me
its

out for

this

hour to

start this great

venture and
It,

then to return: to return and watch with

with

all

divine foreknowledge and inner understanding, the unfolding of the supreme design the design which
its

can only take on

of eternity.
I go.

meaning viewed from the

see.

station

For the time being I

For the time being

all

the confusing clouds of illusion, the tempter voice, the world's practical schemings,
stars are sure, clear

vanish.
I go

And

the
into

and encompassing.

down

the valley

there that voice will return

will rise

and confuse
will, for

me, the dust

and

my

guiding stars

moments, be
J have laid,

lost. I shall

again find these doubts which

wrapped

thiclcly

round me.

I shall

hear

men
they

asking

me

to guide

and I

shall asfc myself,

have
slip.

come

to betray? I

must often

hesitate

and
73

DIALOGUE

But

I have taken

my

choice.

And

after three years of

actual effort

three years for these three days of desI shall

failed

perate mental struggle

come

again.

When

it

seems that
is

must have

true, that I have ruined

and the accusing voice my cause and myself I

lifted

shall discover myself

once more

up looking over
will

the Peoples into the level sunset.

lift

The darkness

the anguish of death and defeat will sink away. I shall exhaustion, say as I can say now: "It is finished; Father into Thy

the deadly voice will dwindle

hands I

commend

this Spirit."

_A Dialogue Desert
is

in the

best.

imaginative writing at its Here the Christ of the

Three
His
is

Temptations

speaks.

the Lonely Voice attempting in the quiet of the

its

desert to establish

identity.
inspira-

Answering

the

sure
is

tion of that voice

the cold,

hard logic of the Dark Echo.

Thus

highlighted in this des-

ert dialogue is man's eternal conflict of right against wrong,

of spiritual versus material.

Gerald Heard has written many books of significance for our time but only recently has he turned to narrative writing.

Whatever the form or the subject, his writings have marked him as one of the most stimulating and provocative authors
of our period. A Dialogue in the Desert is memorable reading.

(jrerala JLleara
Is

spect
last

name which commands reamong readers who have

followed the literature of the

decade dealing with social moral problems. The Ascent of Humanity, The Third Morality,, The Source

and

of Civilization,

and

Man

the

Master are among the books by him which stand out as probing analyses of modei'ii man's spiritual and social
plight. Equally provocative are his two recently published

books based on portions of the

Sermon on the Mount: The Creed of Christ and The Code of Christ. Mr. Heard is also
an accomplished writer of novels

of detection

and of short

stories,

Heard was born in England and educated at CamGerald

bridge. His fortnightly broadcasts entitled

"This Surprising
consid-

World" brought him

is

erable note as a lecturer.

He

now

living in

California,

where his latest books have been written.

126518