I just came across these thoughts from a year ago just when I was thinking of doing a blog.
I was in Kusadasi (apparently) and it was also July 4th. (Did I mention it was a year ago?). I have done a quick tidy and present it for you in today’s blog time capsule...
Build it they said. And they will come.
OK. Nobody said that. At least not to me.
The challenge of writing a blog is one of writing hopefully entertaining prose but an exercise at least in truth. I could call it “You CAN Handle the Truth”. I like that. But my mission is not that messianic. Trifle’s aren’t messianic.
One of my current sins is I don't write enough. And I rather like it. Maybe if I practice I'll get good. My journey starts here. Join me and let’s see where we end up.
Recently I went to Galilee.
Do you know what the currency is in Israel? It ain’t dollars.
Israel is the land of the Miracles.
But no sign of Smokey Robinson.
I just avoided buying the “First Miracle” wine from the souvenir ship in Cana but it got me thinking. (I love a little commercial crassness so it was a joy to behold.) Anyway, why do we assume the water into wine involved red wine. Surely white would have been a more probable choice. Especially with fish. A nice Cab Sav maybe.
But if everybody agreed that they tasted wine when drinking the translucent liquid, what casual observer would dare doubt this miracle?.
Prior to this I had visited the site of every schoolboy’s favourite - the loaves and fishes miracle. None on sale unfortunately but various fish symbols were available should you have space on your rear bumper.
These were the miracles.
Jesus chose interestingly I think.
Like a magician might select.
For drama. For effect. For a standing ovation. For these things alone, the wine has to be red. Red wine IS drama. If you don’t think so, try spilling it on your best friend’s beige carpet then look at his wife’s face.
But why did he not select effects that everybody could be blown away by.
Like say, oh I don’t know...turning back time.
Why choose something so material so.... well...possible?
And if you do this material, never... NEVER repeat the trick.
Lazarus? The resurrection?
Life from death?
The same trick?
Well perhaps. But a different method. He was a pro after all. Nobody’s saying he wasn’t good.
This the exception known to magicians. Repeat the trick... but only if use a different method.
As a doctor I have difficulty with life from death. The brain cannot be rescued after 6 minutes of lack of oxygen - anoxia.
However should Lazarus be excommunicated from his church, a charismatic self-styled prophet can welcome him back to his new church. Effectively, allegorically, resurrecting him from the dead.
Obvious when you think of it.
The great think about the truth is it feels so right.
You CAN handle the truth. You know it when you hear it. But you don’t hear it so much nowadays. It tends to be conditional....flavoured like a quarter of midget gems where every tenth one is black and you don’t know if it going to be a moreish blackcurrant or fairly disgusting liquorice.
It does rather makes you wonder about the miracles that did not make the cut when the stories were written up.
There must be some: some less impressive ones, some that did not impress with a literal interpretation and stand the test of time.
Lean back in a comfy chair, tap a pencil on your front teeth and imagine a few.
Personally I would like to see that sundial go backwards.
Oh... and it's shekels by the way.
