John Clark Smith

This is a book about engrained ideas and patterns of thought that need to be examined. Many thinkers, such as Socrates, Zhuangzi, Descartes, Thoreau, Kierkegaard, and Paine support this endeavor. Questioning and doubting are lifelong processes. The essays hopefully serve as catalysts, mental mosquito bites to start us scratching. Yet this is not a book of answers or truths. Nor are any of the essays intended to explore these subjects in depth. Whatever alternatives I offer should also be questioned. What is supported today may be rejected tomorrow. In fact, some of these assumptions the reader may have already doubted or discarded. The key point is to start a habit of examining the line of thought underlying assumptions, even those we've considered. The more we examine assumptions, the more we will realize their value or their defects.

In a fragmented, divisive, and secular world, a follower of John the Baptist miraculously appears to continue the mission he had pursued in the ancient world. As his journey unfolds, he visits many of the world's leaders to warn them of a coming transformation. Though they ignore him, the popularity of his message grows. At the same time, a young woman starts her own mission through inspirational speeches, railing against the leaders of our society and their lack of spiritual life. The two join together to bring on the coming transformation, but numerous enemies attack them and try to prevent their work.

In a fragmented, divisive, and secular world, a follower of John the Baptist miraculously appears to continue the mission he had pursued in the ancient world. As his journey unfolds, he visits many of the world's leaders to warn them of a coming transformation. Though they ignore him, the popularity of his message grows. At the same time, a young woman starts her own mission through inspirational speeches, railing against the leaders of our society and their lack of spiritual life. The two join together to bring on the coming transformation, but numerous enemies attack them and try to prevent their work.

In Quest of Mystery describes the strange events that slowly guide a man to his true purpose as someone who resolves the mysteries of the universe. Someday there will be a great awakening when we know that this is all a great dream. Yet the stupid believe they are awake, busily and brightly assuming they understand things, calling this man ruler, that one herdsman--how dense Forget the years; forget distinctions. Leap into the boundless and make it your home From Chapter 2 of the Zhuangzi, trans. Burton Watson

Orange Dawn is a gripping tale of how an idle female traveler stumbles upon one man's extreme plan to show respect for his land's flora and fauna. The setting is Harding, Pennsylvania, a picturesque valley town in the Allegheny Mountains of western Pennsylvania. Harding is blockaded by the National Guard because of an orange cloud that hangs over the town. No one knows what it is and how to eliminate it. The traveler secretly comes into the town from the mountains and immediately is recognized as a stranger and flees back into the mountains. She soon returns and discovers the truth of the orange and what is necessary for it to end.

Most of the stories in this collection revolve around one theme: the need to change, to rebel, or to be courageous. Inevitably this means conflict with tradition, authority, or the status quo. The people in these stories do not sit still and wait for others to make the changes. They are, in different ways and degrees, activists, even if the change is so subtle only they may know it. The choices may be social, political, personal, spiritual or romantic. They can involve people of all ages, races, and religions. But the need to transform relationships, regimes, systems, traditions, and habits is common throughout. Of course, for each person who stands up for principles or who rebels against the old ways, there is a cost, sometimes a very steep cost.