Writer’s Rant
January 25, 2025
“What’s In the Box?”
I am a fan of Art Bell. If you are not familiar with the name, Art Bell was a prominent American broadcaster and author, born on June 17, 1945, in Camp Lejeune, North Carolina. He was best known as the original host of the paranormal-themed radio program “Coast to Coast AM,” which he founded in 1988 and wrote several books, one titled “The Art of Talk.” Throughout his career, Bell became a household name, known for his distinctive voice and his ability to engage listeners with thought-provoking discussions on a wide range of topics, particularly those related to the unexplained and mysterious.
Sadly, Art Bell passed away in 2018. His radio program lives on however and I continue to listen nightly to podcasts of the original recorded programs. Every New Year’s Eve, without exception, Art’s large audience would call in with their predictions for the upcoming year. What is most intriguing is listening to these callers years later and hearing how some of their predictions actually came to pass.
I am also a fan of the bible. Regardless of your religious beliefs (or skepticism), there are many predictions for the future and prophecies contained within, particularly in the Old Testament. My favorite book of the Old Testament has to be Isaiah and the foretelling of the birth of Christ.
Not all prophecies have to do with religion. Nostradamus wrote numerous quatrains, some of which have already come to pass, so some believe. But one of the more telling prophecies comes from Plato who died around 348 BC. It goes like this: “Someday, in the distant future, our grandchildren’s grandchildren will develop a new equivalent of our classrooms. They will spend many hours in front of boxes with fires glowing within. May they have the wisdom to know the difference between light and knowledge.” Boxes with fires glowing within?
As a writer of fiction, I have a tendency to let my imagination run wild. But I can’t begin to predict the future or have the vision of the prophets of the past. I can only hope and pray that we have learned from all those who have passed their words of wisdom on to us and warned us of what may come.
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