God Doodles

PLEASE PASS THE HYPOCRITES

February, 1984

     My 7 year old son wanted the Brussels sprouts. Brussels sprouts were the only thing on his mind at that moment. They were delicious, no doubt about it. The only question was, what to call those tender little morsels? A new word flashed in his mind like a gold nugget in the midst of the gravel of ordinary dinner table conversation.  Hypocrites! A connection formed. New word – new food. And Brussels sprouts were uppermost in his mind. They were so good they would surely be the main topic in all other minds as well. This new tasty dish must be called “hypocrites”. “Please pass the hypocrites,” he peeped loudly. 

     All conversation ceased. All heads turned. And, after a brief silence during which everyone realized what had happened, all broke into laughter. 

     The point of the story is that there can never be a specific point to any story. We can never be sure how our speech is being received or what is going on in another person’s mind. You may derive some benefit from my tale that I had never considered. You may derive no benefit at all. 

     We human beings are finally and terribly alone, imprisoned by our egos, locked within the shell of our bodies. We are isolated, separated, kept apart by a double wall of flesh and an impenetrable barrier of subjectivity. 

     Sometimes our condition gives us reason to smile, as in the occurrence at the dinner table. But mostly, we either cry in lonely anguish or numb ourselves to the pain and become accustomed to loneliness. 

But we have a great hope: Jesus Christ and him crucified. By His death we have been united into one body. Through Jesus Christ we have community. What I mean by that is, together in our self-centeredness, we are united also by our forgiven-ness. Jesus Christ stands among us, between us, between each isolated person and her neighbor. And while we cannot know each other fully, we are intimately known by Christ. Letting go of our isolation and grasping his hand firmly, we strangely become known to each other. And we share. And care.

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