To all on FCP, as you know I am no believer in any religion. The books of these, to me, are so poor before the Universe's majesty and challenge, that however grand in stretches the myths they skein they fail to compel the mind as much as they do compel admiration for the ingenuity of their authors.
Now Christmas is, by any honest measure, a profoundly religious holiday. Yet, however much I have become alienated from the creed I was born into, I cherish the vision of a human hope which, even in the darkness of the deepest night, connects our frail lives to the grand substance of the Universe [or "the Gods" or "God" or whatever word best underlies the sheer mystery of existence]. It is a hope shared both by the message of that weirdly great man, Jesus Christ, and by the pagan tribesmen of the frozen stretches of Europa, lighting the fires that defied the Triumph of Winter and the End of Days.
It is a hope we all, whether or not it sustains us, have felt at some moment of life. So may you be warmed by that hope, and may it sustain you.
Until next year, friends.
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11 comments:
See ya, AA.
There are no atheists in foxholes, AA. So forget about peace -- you gotta get down and dirty in that foxhole, to see again the Light.
I hope this post isn't an indication that you are going all new-agey on us. have a good break, man.
And do try to get in WiFi range. Not easy to find in those West Coast boondocks, but hey -- if JJ could get online on the other side of the world, maybe you can, too! Have a good trip, AA, and try not to get stuck in some random airport halfway between the coasts.
To think about how a singular species of sentient beings somehow matters against the backdrop of the universe is pretty humbling. From Aristotle to Nietzsche to Mencken and back to Jesus (all respective freaks), they all spoke of the need for humans to forgive, something that warms our hearts so near this solstice, so near this Christmas holiday.
Another arctic freeze is pushing down from the Yukon into Dakota. I think the Great Lakes region and the east coast is experiencing similar. So gravity tilts the planet, and the atomic chain reaction that is the sun heats and doesn't heat it, and we continue to hurtle unconsciously through this universe.
But enough of that: Merry Christmas you saucy bastards.
they all spoke of the need for humans to forgive
Yeah, yeah, yeah. How'bout "I piss on all of you" as a measure of forgiveness?
Pepe, what if it's Paris Hilton pissing? Diffferent, huh?
Paris doesn't piss, you barbarian.
Pepe,
I'm uncertain how far into golden showers any of the above were.
So much for Peace
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