Saints in Waiting … (01/16/2018)
St. Vincent, Bill Murray’s recent gem of a film, reminds all who watch it of a very important & oft-forgotten Truth — namely, that even though we often make mistakes in our dealings with others; that even though we all regularly “slip” into thoughts or words or acts that are selfish or callous or crass (or arrogant or greedy or superficial or spiteful or even downright cruel); that even though we are all programmed at our most basic level to think primarily for ourselves and our own comfort (and justify the same — because we are, after all, “only human”); that despite all of these things, we all always have been, we always will be, and we indeed still are to this very day true Saints in Waiting …
*It reminds us that even though we might have every reason to be wary of and act coldly towards the strangers we encounter, we can also choose at any moment to reach out to those “bums” and be openly & courageously Kind to them instead;
*It reminds us that even though we might have been taught to condemn or criticize those whose religious beliefs differ from our own, we can also choose at any moment to reach out humbly to those “heretics” and give them gentleness & respect instead;
*It reminds us that even though we might have been raised to harbor bigoted hatred for those of different gender or different race or different sexual inclination, we can also choose at any moment to set aside our prejudices and reach out to those “weirdos” & those “perverts” to tenderly Care for them instead;
*And it reminds us that even though we might believe beyond a shadow of a doubt that the violent cruelties we directly support are justified (be they drone strikes ordered by your “glorious leaders,” or be they slaughterhouse murders ordered by your own shopping dollars that every month kill hundreds of innocent animals), we can also choose at any moment to put down our politics and put down our knives and become active agents for Peace instead.
Yes, I know, we are indeed “only human”, and as such more “sins” of selfish lust & greed are probably approaching on our horizons of “one day” or even “soon” … And yet, allow me to gently remind you that you are also so much more than mere mammals of instinct – allow me to remind that you are Good – allow me to remind you that you are Noble – allow me to remind you that you are Kind — even allow me to remind you that you too, are Saints.
Amen … Let it be so.
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