Harry watches television in silence.
God plants clues in everything, and Harry thinks
with enough silence, God will say who he is.
But these distractions, these sins; they’re not Harry’s
sins, but they want to be.
These sins want to inflate Harry’s ego and obscure God clues.
Harry searches God’s hiding places: asylums, dumpsters,
crack dens, hustlers, and speed freaks.
God swims in oceans of puke and dares Harry to follow.
Harry sleeps for two or three days in the sanitized houses
of God where pious friars who don’t know God tell him to
pray and give him deodorant.
Harry wants to belong to these men.
He wants clean hair and an eternally pregnant mother
dressed in stars.
But God is on the street across from the church sleeping
in a stream of piss.
How did it begin?
When Harry was five, he lapsed into the unhurried sleep of the
child and had a dream…
(c) Rob Goldstein 2018
Reblogged this on Survivors Blog Here.
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This is a great poem. It certainly challenges the everyday idea of God. Brilliant.
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Thank you Robbie.
For me, the most profound aspect of the Nativity story is this: the most powerful force in the Universe decides incarnates among the trash of the ancient world.
The story turns ideas of royalty and class upside down. Jesus is the King of Kings and a peasant.
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Yes, it does.
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Wow, I have to read this several times to try to understand it. It’s close, but hidden for me. Like on the tip of my tongue, but not there. You know?
The art work is stunning! I love the textures, the pose, and the colors. But, you know I’m all about the birds. 😊
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God is close but often hidden, you sense what he is, you can almost know it, but it’s not there.
This is a yearning for the God whose daily crucifixion goes unnoticed by everyone but poor old Harry.
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I liked this but didn’t understand it.
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That’s ok. I don’t really understand it either. But I do like it.
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Profound and vivid Rob. You hit the right chord. Hugs.
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Thank Teagan!
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Unique presentation of a higher power, Rob.
He sent His son so he would have understanding of humanity, I feel. So thought-provoking!
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When you do these things for the least of my brethren, you do them for me.
That doesn’t sound like a God whose gonna load up heaven with a bunch of angry white racists.
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Oh, I agree! I also feel we could all do well to realize how it feels to walk in another’s shoes. . . More Love and compassion needed around the world. 🌐 💞
No judgement of each other either!
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A segment of the population uses emotional reasoning to solve problems. Our emotion’s have a place in our reasoning but the undisciplined use of emotional is what leads to belief systems based on lies and magical thinking, IE: I’m a patriot because I say I am even is the guy I support is a Russian Asset he’s a patriot because I wish it.
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Wow, both stories are great. Yes, God is everywhere and barely dressed in stars. Very touching and thought-provoking, Robert!
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Thanks Erika!
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You are welcome, Robert!
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Both pieces are very powerful, Rob. My favourite lines: “He wants clean hair and an eternally pregnant mother dressed in stars.
But God is on the street across from the church sleeping in piss.” Thanks for sharing this with us.
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Thanks, Mary. I was clearly conflicted about joining the Franciscans. 🙂
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A fantastic call to action, Rob. So descriptive!
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Thank you, Jaqui!
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Wow, Robert. This is so rich in description and challenge, and what a call to reframe our paradigms about the nature of God. Powerful!
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Thank you, Diana. I asked myself we’re should we look for a God who chose to live with the trash of the ancient World?
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That was so powerful, this atheist was touched.
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Thank you, I’m not quite sure I understand it–this is one of my a puzzle pieces. I’m still in the process of revising it.
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Don’t revise it too much! It’s just about perfect as is.
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Wonderful artwork…your imagination is just splendid.
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Paula, thank you for being such a consistent voice of support. 🙂
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