Who would you like to spend a day sitting and talking and
hanging out with? I hear and read variations of this question often on the
internet. “If you could spend one hour with anyone alive or dead who would it
be? “ I don’t often answer it and honestly I give it little to no thought. But,
once in a little while I think about it. I don’t know about an hour. We humans
love to put limits on things. I read sometimes where people will look at the
evidence for something that they are really skeptical about. For instance the
reports of the Near Death Experience.
I will often see people say that it seems we continue to
exist in “some form, for some period” after the brain stops. They (and I admit
my self here also) have a real problem accepting that maybe we just are. We are
still us when the brain stops. Conscious and unique. But, no. Folks have to have limits. Religion,
Scientific exploration even with some people has limits. There is a theoretical
Physicist named Michio Kaku who some have compared to Einstein who says
something that I really like when he talks about scientific knowledge. He often
says “This is what we know now.” In other words he doesn’t put limits on exploration or possibility. I
like that.
So, who would I like to talk with for as long as I wanted to
talk and Listen? Well, I’m a pretty well educated (not high level but pretty
well) American male. I’ve traveled the world and the seven seas. No, I really haven’t but my little earworm started
singing The Eurythmics song in my head. You’re welcome. Agggh! But, I digress.
Again.
Anyway, I’ve traveled a little in the U.S. and I have
questioned most of what I’ve seen and learned and heard along the way.
I can’t call myself a “Evangelical Christian” or an Agnostic these days.
I have seen too much to be either one. Sorry I don’t mean to sound arrogant. I’m
just speaking for my own journey. Right now. In 20 years if God allows me to
still be here I might say something different. I doubt it. But, I might. I’m
sure my view on things will continue to evolve.
Anyway, I thought about the people I would talk with. Some close family
that I miss who have traveled on. Some old friends and some classmates along
the way that I might not have even been
close to in this lifetime. But, I have a few people that I would love to talk with.
1.
Jesus: (Bet ya saw that one coming since I am a
product of the American South and the Bible Belt.) But, I really don’t mean the
sanitized Sunday School version. I mean the actual man who walked and lived and
died and was either the very incarnation of God (heretical thought here, I
think we all are incarnations of source to some extent.) Or a wise teacher and
Rabbi. I don’t know that I would ask many theological questions as far as
churchy stuff. But, I would love to discuss the nature of reality and God and
Spiritual views with him. Sometimes I meditate and picture myself coming into
his presence and just listening. But, then again. I am a space cadet to some folks.
My mother once said (while she was still fairly young and divorced and not
adverse to going out on a Sattidy Nite.) Anyway, she once told some older loved
ones who had questioned her “God already knows what I do. So why do you think I
care what you think?” Well, sometimes I have to remind myself when I write
something like this. I can just hear certain lifelong friends of mine saying “Steve,
you need to get back to a biblical or church or more fundamental mindset of
Christianity.” I always think “Ya know, God/Universe/Ground of all being
already knows what I think. So, why should I pretend just to make someone else
feel better about me theologically?
2.
Ms. Woods: Who is Ms. Woods? My sixth grade
teacher at Walnut Park Elementary way back in the very late 60’s or maybe it
was 1970? Years go by so fast. She was the first black person (no disrespect
intended but, Ms. Woods would not have
called herself African American at that time. Black was not considered a slight
and as a matter of fact people had just come into the realization that “Black
is Beautiful” and not something to be ashamed of. So, I use it in that way. Ms.
Woods was the first black person that I had really known that was in a position
of authority in my life. You ever hear the expression that people don’t always
remember what you say, but they will always remember how you made them feel?
Well, that’s true here. I just remember this very warm and yet no nonsense teacher
who instilled the importance of each and every child in that room. By doing
that she also instilled her own importance. Later in life when growing up in
the south there would be times when I would be in the middle of racial strife
or at least watching or hearing it. Whenever, I would hear something disparaging
about black folks or even if I got angry I would always see Ms. Woods face in
my mind. It certainly put a new light on the subject. Yeah, I think it would be
tremendous to be able to speak with her and hear more of her journey in the
early 20th century in the American South. How did she do that and
still not project any resentment at all to those little white faces in her
classroom? Couldn’t have been easy. Yeah, we will talk one day. Once I cross
that river.
3.
My maternal Granddaddy: My Granddaddy (that’s
what I called him. Not grandfather or any other name) was a survivor of the
great depression. His family was Black Dutch and Cherokee. If you google Black
Dutch it means a Germanic people that were not pure blood and had married
darker people along the way. He looked Cherokee. He wasn’t or at least not full
blooded but he had the high cheekbones and was darker than my Irish Grandmother.
She was grandmaw. Not grandmother but that’s another story. She was also a
pillar of my life. My Granddaddy was a
coal miner and a hard drinker. He had a tough time and his health was bad due
to lifestyle and hard work. But, he was kind and he loved his family.
Especially his grandbabies. I was a moody and angry teenager and a lost and
angry youth. But, I felt him on the day he passed. I’ll just say I look forward
to seeing him without the bad health or the demons of addiction and the beating
that life can give a person coming through here.
There are other people that I’m not going
to list here. I really don’t look much for guru’s in this world. I don’t really
think anybody else knows anymore than I do
(which means they don’t know much) about the mysteries of existence. I keep my
dialog in my head and in my prayers and meditations. It’s taken me a long time to be able to put away the bullshit and
just be me. At 60 years old (next month) I no longer have to pretend to attract girls or be
a part of the group or make the preacher and the church happy. I no longer have
to worry if the boss likes me or if I am going to be able to get that
promotion. I have financial and personal and family obligations. But, I don’t have to
be “on parade” and that’s a good feeling. I really think it’s how we treat others and
how we respect ourselves that counts.
So, eat that desert but, walk a little
afterwards. Pray that prayer but don’t think your version of reality is the
only way to go. The history of that book you are thumping? Well, it’s not a
novel or a science book or written by one guy or girl in one setting. But, I’m
not going to argue with you about it. Don’t be afraid of truth. Respect the
scientific method but remember there is no single entity that answers to the
name Science. It’s a method, not absolute way of being or person. Be honest
with yourself and take it one day at a time. One moment at a time if you have
to.
If you disagree with me that’s fine. We can
still be friends (at least on my end) there are things I don’t understand. I don’t
know how anybody can look at Donald Trump and not realize he’s a lightweight
thinker and was born halfway to home plate and thinks he hit a home run. But, I
would never abandon my friendship or love for another person over him or any
other political figure. I can’t get the image of that idiot making fun of that
disabled reporter out of my head. But, on the other hand I hope he succeeds wildly
or the country does under his watch. Because at the end of the day I want what
most people want. A place to live and clothes to wear. Food to eat and a little
left over for fun.
J
Peace.
