A real prophet isn’t someone who predicts the future…
A real prophet is someone who creates the future.
A real prophet is the greatest of teachers–one who illuminates the meaning of life not by their professions, but by their exemplary actions.
A real prophet will not tell you how to be happy.
A real prophet will show you how to matter.
As such, a real prophet is always a threat to injustice… and therefore a threat to the status quo and powers that be. It’s no wonder then, what the preachers, politicians, and “the faithful” do when a real prophet shows up. They ridicule, shun, exile, demonize, scapegoat, imprison, torture, execute, or assassinate them, of course.
Just ask Socrates, Jesus, Galileo, Gandhi, and Doctor King… to name but a few.
I wonder if you consider yourself a prophet of sorts. I wonder how many of us sit inside ourselves and think we have that on our side (divine vision is it?), or that we can see straight. I haven’t gone through your site to see you more oddy; only I went to the link of this single post and read it, wondering over the picture. I think we’re all dunces to some degree or another. At any rate, I saw myself in that coned hat. I found your blog doing a search on the word prophecy for a post on mine, a long poem that uses divine vision to see the beginnings of society and its transformation into what we mean by heaven on earth, “The Rose of Society” on Harm’s End.
Thanks for asking. I would never consider myself to be either a professional or amateur prophet–except in those moments when my actions reflect my most deeply held values and someone is watching and is moved by what they see. Other than that, I struggle every day to transform my rants into meaningful action.
I’ve read “The Rose of Society” on your website. Quite a lot to digest in just one reading, but taking many of your expressions deeply to heart. Thanks & Peace.
You make me stop a moment in my goings to consider quite frankly how do you respond to sincerity? I mean me, in this moment, trying to say something to you that would express my pleasure and gratitude, not just for reading my poem, but for being someone that is really and truly trying. Thank you.
🤜🤛
So very true, Frank! There are few real prophets, but those few leave a mark on the world, on the lives they touch. And those real prophets don’t toot their own horns … they’re too busy doing good in the world. So, when you hear someone bragging about all the good they’ve done, you can pretty much bet they are not a real prophet.
Thanks for the resonance and for your most thoughtful addition, Jill.
Another fine post, Frank. This seems an appropriate addition:
15 Beware of false prophets, which come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ravening wolves.
16 Ye shall know them by their fruits. Do men gather grapes of thorns, or figs of thistles?
17 Even so every good tree bringeth forth good fruit; but a corrupt tree bringeth forth evil fruit.
18 A good tree cannot bring forth evil fruit, neither can a corrupt tree bring forth good fruit.
19 Every tree that bringeth not forth good fruit is hewn down, and cast into the fire.
20 Wherefore by their fruits ye shall know them. Matthew 7:15-20.
Thanks for sharing. By their fruits indeed.