The Lesson of the Moth

Of the few memories that are perpetually recalled in my mind, one is The Lesson of The Moth by Don Marquis. This is a story of a conversation between the narrator and a moth, in which the moth is trying desperately to fry himself on a electric light bulb. Given the craziness of this, and the ensuing question, "why?" The moth responds that he would rather live in beauty for a moment than to never know beauty.

This kind of want is scarce in our modern lives. As we are now free of the necessities of survival, no longer needing to hunt, even farm, our food, we are open to the ultimate choice in life. The choice between beauty or a dull gray absence. To seek beauty or to walk randomly down the paths of life. However, as the moth relates, living in this dull gray existence that knows no success or defeat, is simply no way to live. He would rather have the extreme desire for beauty and pay the price.

To us, our flame is our purpose, its what we want so badly we would give our lives for it. This is beauty. I asked myself this, is there something, a cause, that I would give my life for? Is there something I want so badly as this moth? The narrator says steals the word out of the questioners thoughts, "I wish there was something I wanted, As badly as he wanted to fry himself."

On Brighter note (pardon the pun): Fortunately, we have the choice to live or die for our purpose. The questions above are meant to assist in developing, not only a purpose, but the corresponding values and desires. Without want, there can be no purpose. Without values, we will wander off course. See future post, Chief Definite Aim.

The Lesson of the Moth:

http://www.donmarquis.com/readingroom/archybooks/moth.html