At Home, 1997

I found peace, reassurance and steady encouragement during my few weeks alone in the desert. The Guardians told me to return to work and use everything I know and have learned to speak out against any and all plans that propose to digitize all recorded knowledge. Even if I’m the only critical voice, I must not waver. I must support and fight for the continuing evolution of the mind. Because of all my experiences they said I was now able to help others better understand how fear, ignorance and superstition can overwhelm a person’s will and ability to know what’s right and stand up for it. I can help people understand that meaningful and relevant progress will always be possible.

I returned to my job at the library and the usual struggles with the budget. There have been no more crosses projected from windows when I walk across campus. I’m relaxed when I visit the library after hours, though it’s still spooky. Best of all, no strange apparitions there or in my kitchen.

Now I ask more questions, look at a wider variety of research subjects; and open my mind and heart to more people, ideas and experiences. Those are probably good ideas for all of us; guess I had to have a big book fall on my head to wake me up.

The frantic push that Digital World and many other corporations had begun for digitization of one-hundred-percent of knowledge has slowed down a little. Around the world a counter-movement to keep libraries and universities open is gaining strength. It turns out that sitting in classrooms and walking along rows of books in libraries is more ingrained in our psyche than many realized.

Right now, there’s no political pressure to close the library. Voters let governors know that universities with libraries and other real buildings they can visit are preferred. We still buy lots of hard copy books in addition to an incredible variety of other formats. I think of the Guardians occasionally and they visit my dreams to remind me they’re still around. I wonder if they’re part of everyone’s psyche.

So far no sign of another dark age. I believe the Guardians continue to inspire and direct mankind toward constructive paths. Progress will likely be an ongoing challenge for humans far into the future. For sure, Digital World hasn’t gone away, at least not yet. Of course no one knows what lies ahead; but I’m more optimistic about the future as many react positively to the human need for balance in all aspects of life.

One day last May, I was surprised by this email:

From:

Mark Miller

To:

John Newton

Subject:

Codex with footnote

Hi John,

Here is another translation from Yarrl’s writings. It seems rather strange but is short, see below:

“Hello to my friend Artemus, I give great thanks for your friendship and companionship on the desert journey that helped me adapt to my new life. I hope you find these writings. Yarrl the conservator”

Why would Yarrl think that someone from the future might discover his codices? This part was a kind of footnote at the end of one of the last codices I translated. Thought you would be interested in such an oddity. I certainly was. He mentioned Artemus several times in another codex about walking from Alexandria to Baramus Monastery. What a mystery!

Mark

So Yarrl had remembered my conversation with Arsenius. My eyes misted over as I laughed at this verification of my trip to Egypt. That’s it, that’s my story and Eppie just called up the stairs asking me to finish dinner. It’s my night to cook.

Sometimes a dream is just a dream, other times it may be something more. When you dream, remember that.

THE END