watch out...
Brethren, I greet you again in the name of Clapton, Santana, and Bo Diddley. In light of the recent occurrences in the lives of some of my friends and indeed myself, I have a very particular hymn in mind for my next sermon.
Now, I needn't remind you that at times you may feel frightened, alone, inadequate, powerless. It is a thing that, living in this world, we all suffer at one time or another. Whether it be from anguish real or imagined, whether the pain be our own or of others around us, it is very easy to feel mired down by the grave injustice of this world.
And on that note shall I read from the gospel according to George, the hymn of Beware of Darkness.
[ahem]
Watch out now, take care,
beware of falling swingers,
dropping all around you.
The pain that often mingles
in your fingertips,
beware of darkness.
Watch out now, take care,
beware of the thoughts that linger,
winding up inside your head.
The hopelessness around you,
in the dead of night,
beware of sadness
It can hit you,
it can hurt you,
make you sore and what is more:
that is not what you are here for.
Watch out now, take care,
beware of soft shoe shufflers,
dancing down the sidewalks.
As each unconscious sufferer
wanders aimlessly,
beware of maya.
Watch out now, take care,
beware of greedy leaders,
they take you where you should not go.
While weeping atlas cedars,
They just want to grow, grow and grow,
beware of darkness.
Beware of darkness...
The message is clearly one of perseverance in the face of great adversity, but Saint George has covered more bases in this psalm than at first seems obvious. In the beginning, he speaks caution against swingers. This readily brings to mind images of drunkenness, debauchery, decadence of most every sort. Turning your head from your troubles or the troubles of the world will solve them not, rather, it will only cause yourself more harm in refusing to acknowledge or act of them. And in the end, to keep your senses dulled to the troubles of the world would demand that one never be sober. This worsens the problem. A true solution to a problem results in spreading goodness and cheer. Finding ignorance in bliss is but a personal world, a cheap fantasy that can never be.
He goes on to talk of thoughts that linger. While it is true that to shut yourself from the world is harmful, focusing entirely too much on the suffering in the world is just as wrong. To allow despair to rule your mind in thinking of the pain that befalls others clouds you, blinds you from seeking ways of doing what you can. Instead, calm yourself, breathe deeply, and think on solutions to the problem rather than letting the magnitude of the troubles intimidate you. Think not that because you are on, you can do nothing to help. No one person can solve all the world's problems, but everyone may help in that end. As long as you have a mind to, you can do something. If you can help in any way, let it be done, however small it may seem. To them that you help, it is a great thing indeed.
Although it seems snuck into the middle, I would venture to say that the interlude is the most important part of this psalm. Though darkness and sadness may seem overpowering, remember well that you were not made to have them rule you. We are all of us meant to take part in that great gig in the sky. Although it is very easy to imagine that Hell may be experienced here on Earth, remember that there is no thing in this world or the next that is without an opposite. If it is true that we may feel the pain of Hell on Earth, it is also possible to feel the joys of Paradise.
As he continues, he speaks of soft-shoe shufflers, dancing on sidewalks. this and a reference to unconscious sufferers gives me cause to think that he was speaking of the harm that drugs bring to those that use them [and Saint George would be well-qualified to warn against such poison, having suffered their effects himself]. this, too, is an attempt to solve problems through escaping them. Abusing narcotics is a grave error. Each of us all has the responsibility of valuing human life. If you cannot value your own existence, and maintain it properly, how then can you truly respect your neighbor?
His final stanza speaks of a matter my last sermon was most concerned with, that is, the problem of unjust rulers. We are humans all, and with that title comes certain liberties, certain dignity and rights. When anyone, on any level, seeks to deny anyone, of any standing, then is the time to rise against the injustice. Let not anger rule your heart in your sedition, but make your sedition real. Do not let the rule of law intimidate you. Laws are only lawful so long as they have moral or ethical standing. Though you may be persecuted by law or citizen by not falling in line with the majority, rest assured that the Divinity will be on your side when you break a law that is unjust, that denies the sanctity of life.
This world is a very frightening place to live at times, in fact most of the time. But remember that it also is a place of many wonders, many instances truly miraculous and which will make you think, "who could possibly deny the existence of the Divinity?" You need only beware of darkness, and of sadness.
Brethren, my sermon ends here. Go in peace, and may Clapton smile on you always.
Amen.
Now, I needn't remind you that at times you may feel frightened, alone, inadequate, powerless. It is a thing that, living in this world, we all suffer at one time or another. Whether it be from anguish real or imagined, whether the pain be our own or of others around us, it is very easy to feel mired down by the grave injustice of this world.
And on that note shall I read from the gospel according to George, the hymn of Beware of Darkness.
[ahem]
Watch out now, take care,
beware of falling swingers,
dropping all around you.
The pain that often mingles
in your fingertips,
beware of darkness.
Watch out now, take care,
beware of the thoughts that linger,
winding up inside your head.
The hopelessness around you,
in the dead of night,
beware of sadness
It can hit you,
it can hurt you,
make you sore and what is more:
that is not what you are here for.
Watch out now, take care,
beware of soft shoe shufflers,
dancing down the sidewalks.
As each unconscious sufferer
wanders aimlessly,
beware of maya.
Watch out now, take care,
beware of greedy leaders,
they take you where you should not go.
While weeping atlas cedars,
They just want to grow, grow and grow,
beware of darkness.
Beware of darkness...
The message is clearly one of perseverance in the face of great adversity, but Saint George has covered more bases in this psalm than at first seems obvious. In the beginning, he speaks caution against swingers. This readily brings to mind images of drunkenness, debauchery, decadence of most every sort. Turning your head from your troubles or the troubles of the world will solve them not, rather, it will only cause yourself more harm in refusing to acknowledge or act of them. And in the end, to keep your senses dulled to the troubles of the world would demand that one never be sober. This worsens the problem. A true solution to a problem results in spreading goodness and cheer. Finding ignorance in bliss is but a personal world, a cheap fantasy that can never be.
He goes on to talk of thoughts that linger. While it is true that to shut yourself from the world is harmful, focusing entirely too much on the suffering in the world is just as wrong. To allow despair to rule your mind in thinking of the pain that befalls others clouds you, blinds you from seeking ways of doing what you can. Instead, calm yourself, breathe deeply, and think on solutions to the problem rather than letting the magnitude of the troubles intimidate you. Think not that because you are on, you can do nothing to help. No one person can solve all the world's problems, but everyone may help in that end. As long as you have a mind to, you can do something. If you can help in any way, let it be done, however small it may seem. To them that you help, it is a great thing indeed.
Although it seems snuck into the middle, I would venture to say that the interlude is the most important part of this psalm. Though darkness and sadness may seem overpowering, remember well that you were not made to have them rule you. We are all of us meant to take part in that great gig in the sky. Although it is very easy to imagine that Hell may be experienced here on Earth, remember that there is no thing in this world or the next that is without an opposite. If it is true that we may feel the pain of Hell on Earth, it is also possible to feel the joys of Paradise.
As he continues, he speaks of soft-shoe shufflers, dancing on sidewalks. this and a reference to unconscious sufferers gives me cause to think that he was speaking of the harm that drugs bring to those that use them [and Saint George would be well-qualified to warn against such poison, having suffered their effects himself]. this, too, is an attempt to solve problems through escaping them. Abusing narcotics is a grave error. Each of us all has the responsibility of valuing human life. If you cannot value your own existence, and maintain it properly, how then can you truly respect your neighbor?
His final stanza speaks of a matter my last sermon was most concerned with, that is, the problem of unjust rulers. We are humans all, and with that title comes certain liberties, certain dignity and rights. When anyone, on any level, seeks to deny anyone, of any standing, then is the time to rise against the injustice. Let not anger rule your heart in your sedition, but make your sedition real. Do not let the rule of law intimidate you. Laws are only lawful so long as they have moral or ethical standing. Though you may be persecuted by law or citizen by not falling in line with the majority, rest assured that the Divinity will be on your side when you break a law that is unjust, that denies the sanctity of life.
This world is a very frightening place to live at times, in fact most of the time. But remember that it also is a place of many wonders, many instances truly miraculous and which will make you think, "who could possibly deny the existence of the Divinity?" You need only beware of darkness, and of sadness.
Brethren, my sermon ends here. Go in peace, and may Clapton smile on you always.
Amen.