People can make long, detailed, and convincing arguments about why Jesus is so important. Those who often do have side agendas attached; those who don’t, just seem to want to use Jesus as a vehicle, a means to their ends.
And often, this is why people stop attending church, or are disgusted and detest preachers on television. I cannot say I blame them for an instant. Seems like a sane response if there are no alternatives.
My roommate was messing with me last night and had control of the cable channels. She kept flipping from the Yankees winning (groans) to this televangelist jackass who I knew was eventually gonna start talking about MONEY (groans louder).
I suppose I shouldn’t allow it to upset me any more than I should expect the Gecko to stop selling me car insurance (I like the Eckhart Tolle/Progressive girl “Flo” better); J.G. Wentworth to stop yelling that it’s my money; or Burger King to come on and start talking about anything but flame-broiled double cheeseburgers for a buck.
But it does. And she knows this and says “I’ll bet you have to write about this tomorrow”.
Well I do and I don’t. Why don’t I share a poem with you that not only addresses the deeper issue of cultural self-absorption, but also the reality (not speculation) that outside this autonomous mess that we continue to concoct, perpetuate and even imagine is meaningful, there is LIFE outside of religion, money, media and personal preoccupations. In fact, it may just be sitting beside you quietly waiting.
