The Last Time I Saw Christ...

[TygrBright]

...was last Friday, actually. I was hurrying back across the Plaza to get to the hotel where a conference luncheon was being held. I'd run across to a bank that has an ATM to get some cash so I could get my car out of hock after the lunch.

I was walking quickly; it was a lovely day. The Plaza, here in Santa Fe, is a place that combines many elements of the city's life. It is, literally, the center of town, blocks from the Capitol building. There are always many different types of people hanging out there--the free spirit/artist/hippie types who live here and the ones who visit, business people enjoying an alfresco meal or a smoke or just a little fresh air, tourists wandering from the pricey shops to the Indian vendors under the portale of the Palace of the Governors, and of course the vendors themselves, and the entertainers. Oh, yeah, and the homeless. We have plenty in Santa Fe, especially lately.

I was in a hurry and so wasn't really noticing on my way to the ATM, but I was walking a little slower on the way back. Sitting around the big monument that marks the end of the Santa Fe Trail, soaking up the midday sunshine, were about a dozen homeless folks. And this guy.

He looked a typical Santa Fean-- casual but comfortable dress with a certain eccentric, individualistic flair, and over it all one of those long white wraparound aprons that kitchen workers and working caterers wear. A small entrepreneur in the food biz, like so many here. And he was carrying a big flat box balanced on one arm, and in the box were a bunch of containers--the sort that are used for pricey "box lunches" catered to tourist groups and meetings. And he was handing them to the homeless people. And when the box was empty he went and picked up a display tray of expensively-wrapped candy items he'd left on a nearby bench and headed off.

My guess was that he'd gone to pick up the goodies from a supplier, probably for some later event. But he'd had these leftover box lunches, from some earlier event, and knew he was going to be going across the Plaza, and decided to bring them along because he knew there'd be hungry people there. He probably didn't think much about it--it was just something that came naturally to him.

See, in my admittedly rather eccentric theology, this is Christ in action. Integrating care for those who have less into the way life is lived. Compassion as... just, something we do. Because it's important, but not important to make a big hairy deal about. Not to have the trumpets blown to signal your act of charity, not to get your name on a plaque. Just--see the need, do what you can to meet the need. Because the need is there, and that was Christ's message. Be mindful of your brother's need, of your sister's need. Do what you can for them. Do it out of love for one another, and make it part of your standard operating procedure.

So where does "protecting heterosexual marriage from incremental erosion" come into this? I'm trying to remember what, other than "For your hardness of heart, Moses allowed divorce, but what God has joined together, let man not sunder" and "You do not understand the nature of heaven, where there is no marrying or giving in marriage," Christ ever said about marriage and who should not be allowed to do it. I've read the Gospels many times, and nothing comes to mind.

I don't remember Christ saying "Prevent two people who love each other dearly and devote their lives to growing together and caring about one another from having the comfort of planning a funeral for each other." I must have missed that verse. I've looked and looked, also, for the parable where Christ illustrated the principal of who should NOT be allowed to visit the sick, especially someone they care deeply about and have made a lifetime commitment to. Can't find that part.

So, anyway, the next time I see Christ (will Christ be male? Female? Old, young? Black, brown, white? Gay, straight? American, Welsh, French, Palestinian, Somali? I see Christ fairly often, and Christ has been all of those things--) I'll have to ask about that.

I bet I know what the answer will be.

devoutly,
Bright

[annabanana]

1. He looks a lot better here than He does in window reflections,

potato chips and tree stumps.

By their fruits shall ye know them.

[Lint Head]

2. That is what is really meant by the phrase, Christ lives within me.

[Angry Dragon]

6. Yes.......The Lost Gospel of St. Thomas

[Demoiselle]

3. Very very good and true, Tygr. Thank you.

[bertman]

4. I was listening to the radio, and some guys from Texas said Jesus just left Chicago.

[Angry Dragon]

5. I have always thought that if there was a second coming

that the "Churches" would not believe that person. They would demand a miracle, a sign of some kind to show that they had divine power. They would tell the "Churches" that they should know them for what they say. They would not believe them. "Churches are so wrapped up in themselves that they can not see what is in front of them.

I make a distiction between religion and "Churches".

[Torn_Scorned_Ignored]

7. That was beautiful TygrBright

thank you.

How Blessed you are to recognize His footprints in your daily life.

[winyanstaz]

8. You got it right Bright :)

The Kingdom of Heaven is within...the moment we find God/Goddess within we are finding Christ/Cosmic consciousness..and then truly..."Whatever ye do unto the least of these..ye do unto me." becomes so true in that we become aware of our connection to all things and that we are One.

[Mopar151]

9. Jesus is my friend

But I know not this Jeebus of whom you speak.

"The thing that we all understand
The Mighty God is a living man!" Bob Marley

[loudsue]

10. You're an inspiration Tygr,

and you just told a beautiful story that made my day! :grouphug: