by Mark D. Stucky

Misguided “solutions” to enigmas
from eschatology to archeology
sometimes muddle profound mystery
with claptrap and conspiracy theories,
harming faith’s credibility
and distracting from the truth.

Archeology explores ancient history,
gradually unraveling mysteries.
Yet some mysteries never get solved,
and some lost relics never get found.

The long-lost Ark of the Covenant
isn’t in a government warehouse,
and most conflicting claims
of veiled discoveries
in divergent site locations
and historical provenances
were (probably) misleading fibs
or misidentified objects.

But then what was the Ark’s actual fate?
Did it suffer destruction millennia ago?
Or has it survived these centuries
somewhere stealthily concealed?

Source of exalting and weeping for Israel
and perplexing plague for Philistines,
it contained stone tablets, a blossoming rod,
a pot of manna, and gold plating galore.
We might wish it had also been equipped
with a BC-equivalent of “Find My iPhone.”
But with centuries of “device not found,”
were we ever meant to solve the mystery?

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Mark D. Stucky has degrees in religious studies, pastoral ministry, and communications. After being a pastor, he became a technical and freelance writer. In his day job, he’s documented technology products (ranging from building automation to satellite communications). In free time, he’s written articles, stories, and poems on a variety of (usually spiritual) topics. He believes in following facts and faith, understanding other perspectives, preserving the earth, protecting the vulnerable, and saving the world (or at least trying to). For more writings, see cinemaspirit.info.