IMANI AND SACONI LIVED IN A LIGHTHOUSE, ON AN ISLAND CALLED INFINITY, BY THE EDGE OF A SEA CALLED ETERNITY.

SACONI WAS A MASTER LIGHT HOUSE MAKER AND CLOCK KEEPER. IMANI WAS SACONI'S ONLY SON.

THE RULERS ON THE ISLAND OF INFINITY WERE RICH AND POWERFUL AND BY EXAMPLE, THEY TAUGHT THE ISLAND'S INHABITANTS THE WAYS AND METHODS TO SEEK AFTER GOLD, BY ENLISTING THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION.

THE RULERS SHARED THEIR TEACHINGS WILLINGLY BUT THEY MAINTAINED A TENACIOUS HOLD ON THE WEALTH AND POWER THEY HAD, FOR THIS WAS ONE OF THEIR TEACHINGS.

THE RULERS OF THE ISLAND TRULY BELIEVED IN THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION BECAUSE THEY SAW AND WANTED THEIR REWARDS OF GOLD AND POWER. BY EXAMPLE THEY TAUGHT, TO WANT WHAT CAN BE SEEN, AND WANT NOT WHAT CANNOT BE SEEN.

AMONG THEMSELVES, THEY TAUGHT THAT THE GIVING OF MATERIAL WEALTH WAS WRONG AND THAT THE SHARING OF POWER WAS WRONG; EXCEPT THAT THEY SHOULD DO SO AMONG THEMSELVES, THERE-BY ENCOURAGING THE SPIRIT OF COMPETITION IN OTHERS.

BUT THERE WERE THOSE AMONG THE INHABITANTS OF INFINITY THAT HELD TO THE SPIRIT OF COMPASSION AND FREE GIVING, A GIFT GIVEN BY BIRTH AT THE LIGHTHOUSE. THEY GAVE FREELY OF THEIR WEALTH AND POWER.
....to be continued

THIS IS THE STORY OF IMANI AND HIS SEARCH FOR THE MEANING OF FAITH.
IMANI LIVED IN A JUNGLE CITY WHERE THE TRAFFIC SLITHERED LIKE A SNAKE ON THE PROW. WHERE POISONOUS LIZARDS ROAMED WITH A VENOM AS DEADLY AS A THOUSAND MARTINI'S. WHERE FLYING THINGS STUNG WITH THE NUMBING POWER OF HEROIN AND EACH NIGHT WAS FILLED WITH CREATURES, EACH WITH THEIR OWN DEFENSES AND OFFENSES. IMANI WAS DAY AND NIGHT FRIGHTENED! HE WAS NEITHER BEAST NOR CREATURE... HE WAS JUST HIS FEAR. IT WAS WHILE HE WAS IN HIS FEAR, AND THE CONFUSION THAT IS FEAR'S ACCOMPLICE, THAT IMANI HAPPENED UPON A WISE MAN.

"OH WISE MAN", IMANI SAID, "I AM SO FRIGHTENED FOR THE SNAKES ARE CLOSE AND THE LIZARDS NEAR AND THE LIONS AND THE TIGERS AND THE FLYING THINGS", IMANI QUAKED."HELP ME OH WISE MAN", lMANI PLEADED. "HAVE FAITH", THE WISE MAN REPLIED CALMLY. WHAT DO YOU MEAN...FAITH?", IMANI ASKED WITH A JERK.

"FAITH IS FAITH",WAS THE MATTER OF FACT REPLY. "YOU MEAN IGNORE ALL OF THIS", IMANI RESPONDED.

"NO NOT THAT " WAS THE WISE MAN'S ANSWER. "WELL IF IT'S NOT THAT, THAN WHAT IS IT, WHAT EXACTLY DO YOU MEAN, FAITH", lMANI CONFUSEDLY PRODDED.

"COME WITH ME AND I'LL SHOW YOU ", THE WISE SUGGESTED, AS HE STARTED TO WALK.

WITH THAT, lMANI AND THE WISE MAN HEADED TOWARD THE HEART OF THE MATTER, THE DEEPEST PART OF THE JUNGLE CITY....to be continued

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PULL ON AN OLD PAIR OF BOOTS,
THAT HAVE WALKED YOU INTO MANY A SUNSET,
OR TO SLIP INTO A COAT THAT HAS PROVRD ITSELF IN MANY A STORM,
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO BRUSH A FACE WITH A TWIG,
OR SIFT THROUGH RICE WITH OPEN FINGERS,
OR TO SHAKE BLOSSOMS FROM A CHERRY TREE,

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO PICK A FLOWER,
OR TO SKIP STONES ON A LAKE,
OR TO NUDGE A MAN FROM A DEEP SLEEP WITH AN ELBOW,

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO GET WET BY MISTAKE,
OR CALL TO A COW WITH A MOO,
OR TO DANCE WITH A FRIEND ON A COUNTRY ROAD,
AT ALMOST QUARTER TO TWO.

I think there is as boat we ride,
That has no out nor inner side,
But rather rides both time and space,
Defying all who search for place,
Tis by our SLOT whe see a bit,
And falsly claim to conqueor it,
But do not claim the title Boss,
For but a dream this boat does cross.

One good teacher can defeat a pair of waring Armies.
For that I know as so,
I hope that teacher, shows up soon,
The Armies here ya know.