I started this blog something like 4 months ago when I moved here, but I didn't write anything. Because what twenty-something just out of college has anything pertinent to say on this vast forum of information? Certainly not this guy.
But last night, I stumbled on a fascinating and terrible thing. A blog about God. Had it been God's blog, I have no doubt that my life would have changed exponentially in the last twenty-four hours. Maybe I'd be privy to the secrets of success. Love. Maybe I'd have been blessed with infinite inspiration. Had it been God's blog..
It wasn't.
Even so, it got me thinking. Much like you are right now, "Wow, kid. Isn't this a little risky for your debut on Blogway?" Actually, I was reminded me of that John Denver song that everyone around here loves so much. You know the one. God knows it too, and I've been spending a lot of time wondering, (praying, more or less), hoping he disagrees.
Anyway, this guy's blog was all about how, you know, the city where I grew up is a portal to hell. Fair enough. The influence of the Beast has taken hold. Various sculptures and symbols are clear-cut conspiracy; the people who run this city are minions of the big man downstairs. God bless you, blah blah blah, your hometown is the gateway drug to eternal damnation.
Oh. Thanks for the tip.
But what struck me was not his vast knowledge of occult imagery (however enthralling), nor was it his undeniable proof that that its presence in this place was forming a spiritual black hole into which all of our happiness and ability to drive calmly was disappearing. What really got me about this devout follower of the Word was how little he talked about God. He was all, demons this, Revelation that, Harry Potter has this symbolism, too, etc. But seldom did he address why God gives a flying flapjack about what work his ex-best bro is doing in Upstate New York. This is glass half full stuff, people.
These days, I'm far from devout anything. (Except maybe since my discovery that The Wonder Years is available--in its entirety!--for instant viewing on Netflix.) My first step into church in the last 10 years was for a wedding last month, and the Catholic ceremony was vaguely reminiscent of the years i spent being bullied in junior high. But I do what I can to survive on this planet. I try to shop local. I recycle. I smile and thank my toll-takers on I-90. I'd like to think that I've not been ensnared by the wiles of the evil one.
I try to look on the bright side of things. Even though my degree is being underutilized and I'm eyeballs deep in college debt. Even though the opening day of hunting season is more important than the birth of your firstborn. 'Round here. And even though I have to smile and nod at the culture shock of the weird, hillbilly comic strip that is my life, I still try to laugh about it and appreciate what this guy's God is giving me for entertainment. I have the good fortune of being able to mooch on my mom's health insurance for another year or two. And I got out of Rochester, NY alive.
So I've been thinking about what God thinks. Is he really on the same page as the man who pores over LaVey's bible looking for reasons to point fingers? Or is he maybe more like me, watching us think about this stuff like we're watching The Wonder Years.
"Damn, Pete," he's probably saying. "Maybe I'll do better on the next model."
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