GET OVER OUR SELF...LOVE AND LAUGH

 I view Jesus the way I view Elvis—I love the guy, but a lot of his fans freak me out. -- John Fugelsang

It's come to this...I came across that quote, loved it, and had to Google John Fugelsang to learn who I was identifying with. He was born in 1969...I'm now identifying with people who were born nearly half my life later than me. Which makes no nevermind, but it pleases me that I'm not resistant.

It seems to me though that it is the name Jesus that hits peoples' panic button...I wonder why it is that the name is such a turnoff. 

[Sidebar: "turnoff" is fear aborning. If, as I believe (having read it in a pop-psychology book), there are only two emotions, love and fear, from which all others spring, then any negative feeling is fear.]

Back to the name Jesus being spoken aloud. Nobody gets that panicky look in their eyes when the word Buddha is mentioned...maybe a tish when Jehovah is, or Allah. But people get fairly vocal for and against when they hear the name Jesus being invoked...as a curse is okay.

I know I substitute a neutral word rather than use the word Jesus when I'm writing...and I don't recall a lot of deep conversing about Jesus or the promise of Jesus. I do know it is his adamantly vocal followers and detractors I choose to avoid. But then, that is true of political partisans, sports super-fans and righteous religious folks...I say let 'em as I walk on by. 

Yet, as to Jesus, I can't say I love the guy...but if a non-personal love counts, then I do. It is the promise of his life and what he taught that lives to this day that calls to me. What he knew, how he knew...and lived it...are my lodestar.

It is thank you, leading to love and laugh, that covers the essence of my spiritual life. The Sermon on the Mount, which is not a knee-slapper, started me on the rough and rugged road to glory. 

Glory, plain and simple, is getting over our own self. That's all, folks.

Thank you.