Long ago in a distant land of heroes and legend the great Hercules was given tasks by the gods to affirm his sanity and make penance for the slaughter of his wife and children. The tasks he was given were often superhuman in nature and required his great strength to serve the greater humanity. One task assigned to him was to mark the edge of the known world with two pillars which proclaimed non plus ultra, “no more beyond”. These stones which became known as the Pillars of Hercules marked the end of the world and served to warn travelers that if they sailed beyond they risked all.
These stones guarded the entrance to the Mediterranean Sea across the strait of Gibraltar. In 1492 a sailor determined to venture beyond the pillars to see what might exist across the unmapped seas. With three ships and the good wishes of the monarchy of Spain Christopher Columbus sailed into the unknown and discovered a whole new world. He proved the ancient wisdom incorrect, there was more beyond.
A century later the king of Spain adopted the motto, plus ultra as a reflection of his power which stretched beyond the limits of a single nation to colonies around the world and across the ocean. It further served as motivation to reach beyond his limitations and become more than he thought possible.
The coat of arms for the kingdom of Spain was altered to include the Pillars of Hercules along with the nation’s new motto which was displayed on ribbon draped over two classical columns. It is thought that the sinuous ribbon wrapped round the pillar became symbolic of the riches of America eventually giving the world one of its most dangerous and powerful symbols, the dollar sign. $
The warning stands to this day on the flag of Spain. There is more beyond. We have not yet reached the end of our potential, as a people, as individuals, as scholars, as scientists, as saints, or as souls. Chapters may open and close but there is life after high school, after college, after graduate school, after Provo, after childhood, after adulthood, and after death. What is beyond your horizon?
I wish i could come up with gems so great. Thank you. Even now, Japanese is more than I can handle.