Monthly Archives: February 2014
Apologies to L. Frank Baum for my cheap parody of his classic economic and political satire, The Wizard of Oz of which I am a huge fan. I suspect Mr. Baum wouldn’t mind a little parody of his satire, especially if the purpose is to make a point. (Note: Yes, “The Wiz” is satire! You thought it was a really scary children’s story? Come on! LSD wouldn’t be invented for another 80 years! The truth is that it’s a really scary ADULT story but that, as they say, is a different story).
Anyway, what do Nurses, Pilots, and Priests have in common?
Besides the formal or implied vow of poverty, celibacy, and obedience, not so much people might say.
I’m not so sure. Continue reading
I don’t recall where we were going but the four of us, the whole family, were in the car on a sunny day, the boys in the back seat reading, me in the driver’s seat, and their mom in the passenger seat.
Music was playing and I was explaining to the boys’ mother the meaning of a song she didn’t understand:
I was a highwayman, along the coach roads I did ride, sword and pistol by my side…
This deeply spiritual tune featuring Willie Nelson, Waylon Jennings, Kris Kristofferson, and Johnny Cash is one of my all-time favorites. Four distinctly different voices tell something about their lives, the first three also sharing the manner of their deaths.
And when the ‘yards broke off they said that I got killed, but I am livin’ still…
Each noting that despite having “died,” they still exist.
I had quickly translated and explained the first three verses, but came upon a challenge with the fourth. The distinct penetrating voice of Johnny Cash begins with:
I fly a starship, across the universe divide…
He discusses what he might do when he finds a place to rest his spirit and then wonders,
Perhaps I may become a highwayman again…
At this moment, I explain that from this we can discern that all four voices are different incarnations Continue reading
