A familiar OT dialogue is here presented in an admittedly amateurish alteration and drastic reduction.
Eliphaz. Yo, Job, you've worked yourself into a lather up there and struck some mighty fine poses that would be the envy of Walter Mitty, but don't you think it's about time you took the saddle off the top rail of the fence and actually put it on one of those broncos in the corral?
Job. Festina lente, amigo. I have a collector's set of bruises already, and my Stetson doesn't need any more creases either.
E. That herd of wild horses isn't getting any smaller, and sooner or later you're going to have to put the saddle on one and all, tighten the cinch, and ride 'em cowboy!
J. I get saddle sores just thinking about it, and what's the hurry anyway?
E. Well, you have only a succession of todays to get the job done. No mananas [Tilde over the first "n". Sorry to cop-out, LowlyWise]. No one else is going to break them for you, and one horse broken will make the next easier. Each subdued bronco will become, to shift metaphors, a staff upon which you can lean in the future, as Mrs. Eddy might say. There are no rewards for saddle time on the fence, no matter how stylish a figure you cut up there.
J. And what if I get thrown? That ground is hard, and I hate to smudge my designer denims.
E. You are probably going to get thrown dozens of times. Just dust yourself off, put your hat back on, and have at it again and again until the job is done. You can always wash your precious jeans, but the false beliefs of mortal mind need to be busted, completely broken, and a failure to do this can't be washed away in your Maytag.
J. Maybe I'd rather have a little more suffering on the fence rather than a passel of it trying to break that wild lot of horses.
E. Well, as that tv commercial said: "You can pay me now, or you can pay me later." Keep in mind, though, that the delayed payment is much more expensive, i.e., entails much more suffering. Every lie of any reality of life in matter and material existence needs to be completely broken. Remember, "The work to be performed is ours,/[but, thankfully] The strength is all his own." (Hymn #354)
20 comments:
So creatively done, Christian. I enjoyed this thoroughly and by the by, a happy Fourth of July to you.
What a clever blog post you've given us this time. Yours are always worth a read, but this one is unusual (but very good).
And a happy holiday from me, as well.
Well done, and one I shall wish to read again and again to pick up all the ways you've expressed your thoughts freshly.
Thanks for posting on your holiday, Christian. Hope you're having a grand old time.
Best,
A solid blog post you've done here, but you've made it very interesting, in my opinion.
Really like checking in with you!
Hope you've had a happy Fourth, Christian. Found this latest of yours quite interesting, creative. I re-read in honor of this day what our Leader said in her address at Pleasant View, 1897-, of the Fourth of July. For those who wish to read it, it's on page 251 of "Miscellaneous Writings." Needless to say, what Mrs. Eddy said was, is, so inspiring, filled with wonderful truths.
You do come up with original titles, ones that always get my attention, for sure. The whole piece is well put together.
Thanks!
Dear Blogger,
A friend mentioned that I should check out your website, and I did. So well done decided I should thank you.
Expect to be back!
Some wise counsel in this, Christian. Like the thought on getting ourselves right back up when mortal mind throws us (and oh how it can seem to do that at times--at least with me!) and going at it again. No one said following in Jesus' steps as our Leader did is easy. But it is the only way that leads up and out of materiality.
My appreciation to you for all you are giving out to help CS's dig deeper in their study of what Mary Baker Eddy has given the world, to think about it more--and prove it!
Good job, Christian!
Like this blog post, but what I'm commenting on right now is a message to LowlyWise's comment some posts back. He mentioned an "ongoing healing" and I wish this person total success which I know Christian Science can bring about.
When we think that the motto of our religion, according to its Founder, is 3 parts work to watch and pray, we see the importance of putting forth the spiritual effort.
Thank you, dear writer, and I hope you have a lovely Fifth of July (if you have the day off, as I do.)
Yes, as our Leader points out, every delay in confronting and overcoming mortal mind's suggestions makes the struggle more severe. Since it can't be put off, the sooner we deal with these false beliefs the better.
Your essays are full of freshness and so often learnedness. I do enjoy a well-written offering on Christian Science!
Really like the way you write, blogger. Know I'm going to read something unlike the usual periodical fare.
Keep blogging!
With so many in the world, and certainly alas, in our movement who do not seem to think very cogently much less express their thoughts in writing with clarity, a pleasure it is to read what you are putting forth, Christian.
God bless you for all you are giving out, Christian. I'm sure our heavenly, loving Father is pleased with His servant!
Book of Job, God condemned the the three friends, incuding Eliphaz, as being miserabe counselors, and commended Job, and asked Job to forgive them and make sacrifices for them. Being as the words of those counsellors sound like so much like the words of C.S. pracititioners, I have often wondered why God condemned them.
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