Blog 3106 – 05.01.2024

The Highwayman

I not only enjoy singing today’s song, but also believe it’s vision of an after or everlasting life fits my own intentions and aspirations far better than any of what I refer to as the “guilt religions.” Unless you think because I quote the Bible a lot I might be letting your particular brand of religion off the hook the four big “guilt religions” in my book are Judaism, Christianity, Islam, and Mormonism. They are rules-based religions where the rules only apply to the poor and powerless while the rich and powerful can and do get away with everything.

I heard someone say the other day that Jesus was crucified for running the money changers out of the temple, for messing with business as usual. I had never thought of it quite like that before, but it does make a certain amount of sense. As long as his teachings were obey the law, turn the other cheek, and don’t make waves, the authorities were content to let him preach and teach and even point out a few hypocrisies. But messing with profits was a bridge too far. Even Pilate who appeared to be wanting to find a way to let Jesus off was cowed when the religious leaders goaded the crowd to shout, “Crucify him, crucify him or you are not Caesar’s friend.”

I believe we all get to play as many roles as we choose and if we are honest we can see ourselves in all of them – rich man, poor man, beggar man, thief, doctor, lawyer, Indian chief, even highwayman.

Something to think about on a rainy spring day.

Your friend and fellow traveler,

David White

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YA0WtFXxH6OJLwfJ9lovDSRn19dFnS6p/view?usp=drivesdk

The Highwayman