Like John the Baptist, the author is "one crying out in the desert" of a transient world indifferent to its ultimate goal -- a world of rushing commuters, hypnotic gadgets, clamorous socials, political bickering, and spirit-deadening amusements -- a world where death pilots myriads down the fading stream of mortality, farther and farther from its true goal, the bright haven of peace where God-lovers laugh at death -- lying defeated on Calvary -- and forever raise gleaming goblets of Christ-love in the sun-smile of their loving Lord.