The Story of Socrates and the Lamp

In my search for a truly just and righteous person, one of the most inspiring narratives I have encountered is the story of Socrates and his lamp.

It is said that one day, in broad daylight, Socrates was walking through the streets of Athens carrying a lantern in his hand. His unusual behaviour caught the attention of those around him.

A passer-by, curious about what he was doing, stopped and asked:

“Socrates, what are you looking for?”

Socrates continued looking around with his lamp and replied:

“I am looking for a just man.”

The man, surprised by the answer, asked why he needed a lamp in broad daylight to find a just man.

Socrates' response was, in essence:

“Although Athens is filled with people, I cannot find a truly just and honest person.”

The story is thought-provoking. Many people may appear good, honest and just, but how many genuinely live by those principles when tested? 

The same make-believe lifestyle that Socrates observed among some of the people of his time remains evident in the human race today.

This reminds me of a question Christ asked His disciples, as recorded in the Bible:

“When the Son of Man comes, will he find faith on the earth?”
— Luke 18:8

The question is as searching today as it was when Jesus asked it.

Perhaps the lesson from both Socrates and Jesus is that appearances can be deceiving. It is relatively easy to profess justice, honesty and faith; the real test is whether our lives reflect what we profess.

As it was in the time of Socrates and Jesus, so it remains in our present generation. The search for genuine justice, integrity and faith continues.

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