On Jesus of Nazareth

Commenting on the words of an avatar, Jesus, Buddha, and Krishna, is a futile gesture. How about if I just say, "this reading is beautiful," and call it a day? Instead, I am going to tell you things I will not do with this blog, so that you may find them yourselves. There are much better people than I to advise you.

What I will try and do is not attempt to apply the readings to famous Christians throughout time and try to point out their failures to follow the message. "Don't judge, and you will not be judged; don't condemn, and you will not be condemned..."

I also will not be telling you how to live your life, for there are much better authorities on the matter. "...don't worry about these things and say, 'What will we eat?' or 'What will wear?' For this is what worldly people seek; and your father knows that you need these things. But first seek the kingdom of God, and these things will be given to you as well." Even more to the point, "love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, bless those who curse you, and pray for those who mistreat you..." Like I said, I won't be giving you any advice that someone else hasn't proposed better.

I will not be telling you how to find God, or even find a connection with him. "Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks, receives; and he who seeks, finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened."

Finally, I won't tell you how to gain eternal salvation or glory. But I read somewhere that "unless you change your life and become like a child, you cannot enter the kingdom of heaven." So you have that going for you, which is nice.

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As one who has had his troubles with Christianity, I cannot in good faith, respond to this weeks writings with a sense of objective distance or fair play. I tried that in a blog you will never see. What I have done here is toed the party line, and tried to be the person Jesus speaks of, never knowing, always seeking.

Today, I want to look for similarities in people, rather than point out flaws, differences, and failures in them. I enjoy coming across wisdom like never before. Still, my initial inclination is to scream, "HYPOCRITE!!" as I watch television or walk throught the bookstore, or even drive by a Christian church. Change will come if I remain diligent, but Rome wasn't built in a day (although it took only 3 to burn down... go figure!).

I guess everyone has a cross to bear.