Lent Twenty Eight "Get up and Walk" incomplete

 

Cave Painting found on the Island of Sulawesi, Indonesia

Religion consists of believing that everything that happens is extraordinarily important.  It can never disappear from the world, precisely for this reason.  

Cesare Pavese, This Business of Living: Diaries 1935-50

Reading about Pavese tragic, beautiful life makes me feel that he is allowed to say what he likes.  We run the risk of take ourselves too seriously.  But Pavese found no reason to live and ended his life when he was 41.   It was when I was sixteen that I found my contemporaries became more relaxed and stopped taking themselves so seriously.  I did too.  You can be less anxious when you allow the world not to make complete sense.  

I return to my reflection that organised religion is likely to be a relative new coming on this planet.  We miss the point if we think it is religion that is the important thing.  To me it is the connection between all things, with the most important connection being to the 'vine'.  Here is a simple story of an everyday gift of food.  Food will always remain important to humans- something that can never disappear from the world.

Gospel according the John Chapter Six       

                    Feast And Fast

                All these people!  This has become a phenomenon.

                They can't get enough of him.

                Taken time off, trapesing across the country.

                Is he that good?

 

                Now he wants them all to be looked after.

                They're getting hungry.

                Isn't it obvious this was going to happen?

                And we're going without all the time.

 

                Let's do a whip round.

                Typical - nothing - totally unprepared.

                Kind kid- What would his mum say?

                Well done Andrew.

 

                Here have some, but don't be greedy.

                It's got to go round 5000.

                I should really be back at work, not party to this fiasco.

 

                He looks up to heaven, says the grace.

                "Thank you God to the lucky winner of some kid's lunch."

 

                What's this? Hand it out.  Sure. Nothing to do with me mate.

                A bit more?  Bigger lunch than I thought.

                Hey you, give us a hand, this isn't finished.

 

                Umm, quite tasty. That's a great bread 'n' fish sandwich.

                Anyone for more?  Yes, no problem. Here pass it on,

                Plenty where it came from.

                You! No need to grab.  I'll serve you last!

 

                Do you mind if I borrow your basket?

                You'll get it back for sure, with interest.

                Vegetarian?! Just fling the fish to the cats!

 

                I'm a bit uneasy about this.

                This lot are going to want more and more.

                I know what 'He' will be saying;

                'Food's one thing, but it's not enough.

                It's spiritual food you're craving.

                This stuff 'll fill you up for a day.

                You need manna that will sort you out for eternity.'

 

                I'm going to suggest next time,

                Let's be a bit harsh.

                A little nibble and a small sip.

                That's you limit.

 

PRAYER:  Thank you for the life sustaining presence.