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Trial balloon...

2007-08-12

Hi. Jesus here.

surrogate's asleep. I slept all the way back from Chicago late last night while he drove. He arrived about six p.m. - in time for dinner, which was lovely by the way. Marcy, a mutual friend of ours from way back, made sizzle rice at surrogate's and my behest. I'm not sure of her technique, but the stuff has sesame seeds, toasted almonds, raisins, onions, mushrooms, celery - even a little mint I think. It tastes like a cross between really great stuffing and a middle eastern dish, but a little crunchy. -Really great.

The discussion at dinner was interesting. I brought everyone up to date on my travels of late and tested out a theory I have.

I asked everyone if Bill Clinton was a good President. Honest. I did. I asked because I knew I'd get three different responses. Jack, Marcy's husband, is a life-long conservative. He piped in right away that Clinton was not only the worst president in the history of the country, but should have been removed from office and then prosecuted for perjury because he lied under oath. Marcy rolled her eyes and sighed in exasperation at this, having heard it a zillion times before from her husband, but she didn't say much to dispute him, since, after all, after surrogate and I left last night, she'd still be there living with him.

surrogate, of course, said Clinton did no more than any red-blooded male would do in the same circumstances - and went on to praise some of the things Clinton accomplished or at least got credit for from his supporters.

Personally? I could care less. History will say what it will about the guy and will largely be based on the prejudices of the people who write the first drafts and are lucky enough have their version recorded and accepted. All the subsequent takes will be based on those early versions, written, of course, by people who will have slanted the facts to support their own views.

The gist of what I'd hope to point out when, afterward, I had my say on the matter was that whatever the history is, it will little to do with the facts. When I was walking around on the planet the first time, the scriptures were known by all of us who studied them to be dramatizations; history as told by people trying to make points; trying to explain that which was unexplainable to themselves in ways that lifted peoples' spirits and provided practical life lessons along the way.

We never debated whether everything written in the Torah was literally true, we knew it for what it was. Heck, it was written and recorded largely by my people, Jews. And trust me, if you were educated in the least back then, you learned quickly that the main way things were taught - in order that were better remembered - was by storytelling - the stories themselves always full of hyperbole and exaggeration. That's how it was done!

It wasn't till much later, after I died, and after so much more was added - including the stories of my life that were told in much the same manner, that some people started deciding that the Bible was the "literal" word of God, which is, frankly, laughable. -No offense to those of you who've been taught to think believe it to be the case. I understand, it's what you've been taught. Of course you believe it. Is it a healthy way to go through life? That's questionable, but it's certainly understandable.

But let me say this: this is a truism. Ready? Okay here we go...

Everything makes sense.

There. Got it? I'll say it again. Read it slowly. -Everything makes sense.

There are explanations for everything that happens. Everything.

Over the next couple of days, I'll try to explain my take on why this is such an important thing to remember in life - and how allowing the meaning behind the little bromide can not only inform our beliefs and attitudes, but why internalizing it can change the way we look at the the world and maybe, ever so slightly, help us to better understand our place in it.

Hope it's fun to read.


Be good to everyone.

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Bishop\'s Fantasy? (2007-08-12)
I read it. That's about all I have to contribute.

Witqueen (2007-08-12)
Dear Mr. Christ, Preachin' to the choir. Problem is, you're a crutch. People need to believe in something bigger and better than themselves for life to make sense. Truly, it just is what it is. Energy in the cosmos. We are only part of a great big universe. Amazing enough in itself, but those that need to judge, condemn, and raise themselves up, use you for their own purposes. Sad really. They miss so much.

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