A soulful warrior in an era of nuclear armaments
Steppenwolf of the information age
Possessed by heroic spirit to accomplish meaningful evolutionary action
Fearful of provoking a violent response from
Insecure politicians backed by religious zealots high on reactionary symbols
Self-appointed protectors of entrenched outmoded ideas
of an institutional reality no longer appropriate
Skeptical of the activist's self-righteous martyrdom
Lacking stamina and financial resources
to act out a mythical struggle against the enemies of truth and goodness
The absentee hero is dormant, withdrawn
Contemplating his options
A solitary seeker
On a path of spiritual discovery
Conscious of existential angst
as a barrier to the cosmic connection
A cooperative partner
Searching for synergy
in a context of domination and submission
The absentee hero meditates
Clearing his mind
Calming his center
Preparing for destiny yet unfulfilled
An itinerant Knight
Ready for battle
With no dragons to slay
Maidens to rescue
Or castles to defend
His soul quests after the Holy Grail of beauty and perfection
His righteous ego searches the landscape
seeking opportunities for achievement and prestige
Disappointed by the imbalance between destruction and creativity
Unable to sustain the magical ecstasy of romantic love
He suffers disillusionment and disenchantment
The absentee hero, without weakness or brutality,
Consciously seeks illumination to
Guide him on his path to redemption
A disciple of Abraxis
An alchemist of the soul
Sympathetic to conflicting perspectives
Avoiding apathy and aggression
Cultivating intelligence born of compassion
On an internal odyssey of self-knowledge
Neither naīve nor cynical
Accepting both good and evil
Acknowledging the paradox
The absentee hero
Quietly pursues his personal search for salvation
JOHN ALAN LEEŠ April 21, 1999