Mola Lisa

“The mole has very small eyes and it always lives under ground; and it lives as long as it is in the dark but when it comes into the light it dies immediately, because it becomes known -- and so it is with lies.”
~ Leonardo da Vinci

An editor from Amazon.com notes, “Throughout his life, Leonardo kept dozens of notebooks, elegant studies on topics ranging from architecture to botany to philosophy—indeed nearly anything of which the human imagination could conceive.”

One portion of those studies is entitled, “Studies on the Life and Habits of Animals.” In this collection of thoughts, da Vinci highlights characteristics of various animals and makes moral application from them in fable-like fashion.

There is no question that he had an incredible mind; however, subsequent centuries have revealed some amusing errors made in his observations. Perhaps someone else can find evidence to support immediate death by exposure to light for the hapless mole; this mole could not. ;-) (Makes a mole think twice before emerging from the molehill to go a-bloggin’!)

In this sketch, it appears there is more truth in the application than there is in the observed habit from which it was drawn. Expose a lie with the “light” of truth, and it dies. Generally true, I think, but only true for those who are not blind to it. Consider the tendency of the masses to cling to ideas devoid of truth, despite overwhelming evidence to the contrary.

My ultimate response as I consider da Vinci’s mole?

Oh, send out Your light and Your truth!
Let them lead me . . .
~ Psalm 43:2

The LORD opens the eyes of the blind;
The LORD raises those who are bowed down;
The LORD loves the righteous.
~ Psalm 146:8

Deal bountifully with Your servant,
That I may live and keep Your word.
Open my eyes, that I may see
Wondrous things from Your law.
I am a stranger in the earth;
Do not hide Your commandments from me.
~ Psalm 119:17-19

~End Quote