O wise one…
(This photo is a family joke)
Jan thought that my December 31 post was my best. She encouraged me to write posts myself and not only quote others. Since I was an english major in college (that is a story itself), she felt like it was natural for me to want to express myself in writing. I reminded her and myself that I was an average english student but that I have always had a tendency to theatrics. Speaking of my tendency to drama she posted a picture of me at about age 21-22 on my birthday on FaceBook. She said, “I was a husband who never ceases to amaze me with his love of life.” I suppose that is true about me. For you see I never wanted to “miss out on anything.” However, I must admit that I have few original ideas. Like CS Lewis I believe most all original and wise things have already been said by someone before. We can only express the same truths in new and fresh ways. So here I go just hoping that my ego stays intact.
She asked me, ”Oh mister english major:
If it is;
I drink
I drank
I have drunk
And;
I sink
I sank
I have sunk
Then why not;
I think
I thank
I have thunk?”
Now that is a brilliant question requiring a brilliant answer in response. Or was this simply an effort to expose my naivety? So maybe the answer doesn’t need to be that intelligent. I can handle this…
Someone some time has said that, “the only thing in life is to take seriously is to not take oneself too seriously.” That seems like a good place to start.
I hate to get biblical again but how about this? Some where in Genesis, I think, is the story of the tower of Babel. My take on that story is mankind (human beings for the politically correct) became so full of themselves, they built a tower that reached into heaven. Now humans thought, “Now we are like gods.” This was the same serious issue Adam and Eve had in the Garden as they stood naked in front of the Tree of Life (refer to post on December 31). The Lord, their Creator, looked down on them. God thought they are filled with pride again. Besides now they all speak one language and can understand each other. “Come let US go down and confuse their language,” God said. So once again humans continue to MISCOMMUNICATE with each other.
Now what does this have to do with the question proposed earlier? Well, like life itself the english language isn’t simple. What appears to be obvious usually isn’t. Humans complicate life. What ought to be simple and easy we make complex. Finally God gave up and came down here to save us from ourselves. He left us with simple instructions: Love God with your whole being, love your neighbor as yourself, share the last supper and this Good News. He has done for us what we could not do for ourselves. That is my take for what it is worth.
DKS
PS I believe the gift in the photo was in fact a bread box. I have long had the ability to guess what my presents are before opening them. This is a childhood skill that I have honed to perfection. Of course I am not above spying!