This and That

Last week was a learning experience...In bible study class I was reminded of why I didn't quite appreciate Church Folk; funeral was Saturday and that took a lot out of me; and I missed enjoying the rainy Sunday morning under the covers.

Church people are sometimes hypocrites and this was borne out on Wednesday as I listened to the speaker mock and the congregation laugh at the beliefs of Rastafarians and Muslims. While I don't claim to be an authority on the bible nor do I think my relationship with the most high is greater than any of my brethren, I couldn't help but feel a twinge of disgust as they laughed....I don't recall Jesus laughing at anyone even the gentiles....I don't recall him preaching that we should chastise our brothers for their alternate views but instead to seek with all our hearts to educate them, I remember reading how he asked the Samarian woman for water, something that no Jew would ever do, I remember him putting the solders ear back on after one of his disciples chopped it off....needless to say I was not pleased with my peoples......

The funeral was preceded by a set up at which we made the best of our time reflecting on Ratty's life and using his example to prescribe changes we would make in our own lives recognising that time is too short for a lot of foolishness that we allow to intervene in our happiness (like a 9-5 job, or not spending enough time with our children) it was a long night. At the church on the Hill we paid our last respects to the man that was, and I was fine until a slide show of who he was as a father and policeman started playing, and then I lost it somewhat as I watched clip after clip of him and his kids, his bredrens made happy by hat magnificent smile. All was getting back to well as I listened to the JCF Choir (who were pretty darn good), then his sons took the stage and I admired the eloquence of the nine year old as he bid good morning to the clergy and " all other protocols observed" to the rest of us. Sadness began to rise once more as I thought about the fact that he would now grow without the care and direction of the father...and I was doing really well until he reminisced about going to the beach with his Dad, questioning God for taking the "best Father in the world" and the fact that he would have to be the light for his little brother to keep the memories of his father alive in both their hearts...I lost it then.....I was not pleased. After paying my respects to his wife a few of us got together at my girlfriend's house and we lymed and drank our sorrows away.

Sunday morning I awoke groggy but committed to going to Church since I had asked the Praise Team to do a particular song for me that day. They Did and it was worth my missing out on spending the rainy morning wrapped in my sheets watching time drift slowly by....it was a day of rest and reflection as well....RIP Ratty, your smile lit the hearts of many.