Sowing Seed, Bearing Fruits
A Modern Parable
by Silent Draco
A time to Reap
This fellow seemed to be banned, thrown out, or walked away. He was frenetic, composed, had coarse jokes and delicate, beautiful music, and talked freely about being unauthorized. There was some codename network, with people called “bears.” They’d heard the provocative thing about male bears, but … this wasn’t the same; there seemed to be men and women, an H-word no one used, and other codenames of animals. Was there more – and was it interesting, and maybe good? But if he was unauthorized, who was he speaking with or speaking to? Some listened, but grew outraged at jokes about coins, or rollerblades, or other jokes. They began to ignore it. Some listened, went home and thought about small things they wanted to do.
The Sower watched all this, and the small changes. He left the ones alone, who wanted their pacification and dudgeon undisturbed. That seed landed on flint or in shallow soil. It was lost, or died out. Some grew slowly but never attained full height. Periodically, he would come by and make changes for those who listened. One day, he came with more, for it was time to fertilize. Folded notes with keywords and search terms appeared discreetly on certain desks, along with the adjustment. Part of the Someones were foolish, and after listening, began searching on names and keywords. Woe unto them; their searches were blocked. Then the Monitors summoned them, and scolded them severely for “non-inclusion” and “wrong thinking”; the Karens piled on with “hate speech”, “toxic masculinity” and other harsh nonsense. They were Marked Down on the watch list, lost privileges, and lost heart; they shrank further into themselves, and despaired again. The pacified and ones in dudgeon jeered at them for not being smart like them. They were crushed under brambles.
The wiser ones carefully pocketed the notes, putting an innocuous reminder on the outside. They went home, searched on their own time and terms, and found warnings of unsafe or unmonitored sites, and unauthorized connections. Some quailed, but others pushed past the warnings. They found videos of the strange comic. Other sites took them to growth, crafts, and tools – all things they recalled from earlier days, but hadn’t realized what they could do.
The Someones came in quietly, but now, like the Sower, they tried speaking politely and nicely to the clerks and women. This was sometimes awkward, but was accepted for they were attempting to be civil and friendly. On occasion, they were asked to help move file or paper boxes. Someones had difficulty with the full boxes; now they grasped the meaning of “lift.” Instead of an afternoon snack, they would leave a note and go to the fitness area, or go out and walk. Moving or lifting small weights was difficult at first, but they kept at it. Some began changing in subtle or noticeable ways.
They matured, and some grew small, neatly tended beards or mustaches. The women noticed the changes and changed composure; while the Karens were upset, the Marys, Sarahs, and Cindys were quietly pleased.
The Someones continued their private quests. They found alternate accounts, guerrilla sites, and other people – not all funny, some quite obscene or coarse, but all with something interesting to say. There were a haven and castle, with books, libraries, and amazing graphic comics, free to see or at reasonable prices. There were rumors and references of a Dark Lord, that only the boldest or strongest willed could face. Many tried to label him with the hate and shame words, but it sounded as if he simply did not care, for the pettiness merely annoyed a higher and deeper mode of thought. All this served to intrigue the wiser Someones, and they began to read or listen.
The Sower watched all this quietly, smiling inside. Some of the seed landed on good soil and was taking deep root. Periodically he would come around and leave other notes with new search terms and ideas, and other messages: “Talk to a friend.” “Go to church.” “Read your Bible.” They thought about this first, then talked first with those who had similar outlooks, asking indirect questions to avoid the Monitors and Karens in their private lives. They asked questions and made comments on some of the websites or videos; some were blasted and stepped away, but others saw through the bluster and tried understanding the flames, answers, and cryptic notes. Many found places online, assumed personae, and others found a few friends of families close to them, with similar hopes and fears. They began building ties, physical and digital. They found young women who were interested in them.
After a time had passed, the Sower came to tend this garden. Some had grown twisted or concealed darkness; they were weeded from contact. To others, the Sower used indirect questions and keywords, including Truth, Beauty, and Goodness.
The Sower rejoiced at this harvest, instructed them, and sent them forth to sow, sevenfold.