Hamlet Speaks...

of grief and madness

"I have of late--but

wherefore I know not--lost all my mirth, forgone all

custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily

with my disposition that this goodly frame, the

earth, seems to me a sterile promontory, this most

excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave

o'erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted

with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to

me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.

What a piece of work is a man! how noble in reason!

how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how

express and admirable! in action how like an angel!

in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of theworld!

the paragon of animals! And yet, to me,

what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not

me: no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling

you seem to say so."

leaving me no more to say...

On the heels of my Jesus rant....

Last Friday - late morning in Los Banos - a young woman and her two girls prepared to cross a busy intersection at the heart of town. They were returning home after renting an evening’s entertainment ( An American in Paris & Disney’s animated Three Musketeers) from the local DVD place. They had stopped to pick up a treat for the family canine companion and the woman had just given a homeless couple $5.00 that they might lunch at the nearby McDonalds.
Before crossing the street, the elder daughter got off her bicycle, as did her Mother. The younger daughter was safety harnessed in the trailer attached to Mom’s bike. They all wore safety gear and waited to use the crosswalk and the walking green.
At the WALK signal, Mom led the way with the small one helmeted in the chariot and the elder girl to bring up the rear with her bicycle in tow. The eldest had not yet stepped from the curb and what follows here is an account from her, and others near to the scene.
Walking east to west, Mom in front about halfway across, a north-bound semi trying to beat the opposing light rolled into an right hand turn; presumably looking left for on coming westerly traffic. He said he never saw them.
As the young woman realized what was about to happen, I’m told she turned, trying to push bicycle with chariot and precious blond child to safety. Waving and screaming to attract the driver’s attention, the wheels of the truck caught her squarely - killing her instantly. The children were, miraculously enough, unharmed physically - though the 3 yr old was dragged about 100ft. The 10 yr old witnessed the entire ugly incident and remembers, as the last of her Mother, her voice screaming "No No No!!!"

"What has this got to do with the Jesus rant?" you ask....

Well, this beautiful woman was a Christian. The kind that might well have sent the missive that set me off. That particular one was not her handiwork but through the years I had received many of similar message from her. She was a solid member of the Seventh Day Adventist Church in Los Banos. Among the folks in town, she was known for feeding the homeless; either giving them money or buying rotisserie chicken and fresh veggies from the local grocery for them. In her neighborhood and church community, she took food and care to the sick or elderly, reached out in fellowship to those who were alone in their lives, sang and played music with a band for services, celebrations and fun.

We shared a lot this lady and I - yet obviously not our spiritual beliefs and practices. She often told me she was too simple to ask the kind of questions I do. "If it’s in the Bible.." she would say "...I believe it. If God made the world in six days and rested, I don’t ask how long God’s days were. God created us in His image - we look like God and I don’t question whether God looks like a one-celled animal that evolved. We are now what He made then and that’s that!"

She gave up coffee (mostly ;-]), was a vegetarian, didn’t smoke or drink alcohol. She chose not to use profanity though she knew all the words and, if provoked, could use them unto burning the stone ears off of angels atop frozen monuments. For the similarities we shared, our differences were truly vast but she nonetheless would describe me as "Not a Christian, but leading a good Christian lifestyle."

Knowing me - warts and all - the addicted, the angry, the unsettled questioner that I am, I believe now that was her way of saying that she loved and accepted me not only as a Creation of the Almighty’s but, too, for who and what I am. While we did not share our belief and reverence for Jesus in the same way - I know she was someone Jesus would have been - or is - pleased to have invoking His name and among His fold.

While we did not share our spiritual ideals or practices, I’m grateful that she found Jesus to be her guide and Saviour for it is through Him that she also found a kind and wonderful husband, had a loving family with two beautiful girls, kept a safe warm, open home complete with garden & home made goodies - freely shared. She leaves behind all that and a town, a Church Community and countless friends that while they are bereft - they may find some comfort in knowing that she is welcomed into Jesus’ Kingdom.

My thoughts on the Almighty are well documented in these pages. Omniscient and omnipotent, all beliefs are made true for the believer through the awesome source that is the Creator. She has found her everlasting home and reward in the good company of Jesus and family and friends gone on before.... just as she would have wanted.

God Bless My Sister
1967 - 2006