Repent, repent, the end is nigh! Today I have been thinking about Doomsday! I seem to be inundated with the end of the world. I turn on the TV to see Doomsday Preppers, Decoding the Mayan Prophecies and Nostradamus. Even the aliens from outer space are getting into the picture. I have received junk mail about a local event for a Prophetic Signs Seminar. The late night talk radio hosts I listen to are talking, again, to survivalists and preparedness authorities who will lead us to the salvation of ten year storeable food and boxed water. We are once again fearing for the worst because thousands of years ago a group of native South Americans ran out of room on the rock while making their calendar.
It’s time to cash in the reality check, here and now, folks. Preachers, Prophets, Sages and Witch Doctors have been raging and screaming to the masses for centuries about how God, or the Gods are initiating our destruction. There has always been talk of events like natural disasters and wars, which fit perfectly into a very loose interpretation of some ancient writing or scripture. I am certain in saying no matter what point in history at which you look, there will be signs and events that will lock themselves in place to lead you to believe the end of days is here.
Sadly it is this type of thinking that leads monks to flagellate or burn themselves, and even Jonestown or the Branch Davidians. We all know what a great idea those places turned out to be. People will believe anything if they think it will save them from death or otherwise. The old saying still holds true, people are just like sheep. They will blindly follow even unto death. What is it that makes us stop and listen and believe when these “sages” tell us they were reading this or they saw that in the stars or even that a shiny, mystical being told them something? Are they stoned when this news is revealed to them? Are we stoned when we believe them?
I, too, am not above all this, I will confess. I will give you a perfect example. For many years I worked over night at a bakery. I got my fill of all the pastries and talk radio I could ever want. My favorite host of all time was Art Bell on Coast to Coast radio. A middle aged woman called in to share a story about a strange man who looked modern but yet had no idea about how to use modern technology, specifically a gas pump. She told her story about how the man was also not familiar with money and it’s value. All of these strange things the man did made her think he was a man out of place. She was so bold to say she thought he was a time traveler.
She asked Art, “What do you think?” He replied “Yes, He could have been a time traveler.” For just a brief moment, the woman gasped and went silent. Her mind processed the thought that she just interacted with something thought to be only make believe. In that same moment, I also thought it all made sense and she experienced something I have only seen in the movies. In the next beat I shook my head and simply dismissed it as Art pandering to her and saying something shocking to build up the ratings for his show. He said yes, just to be cruel.
Because Art Bell is a man I like and respect, I was willing to throw my own rational thinking aside to believe what would seem impossible. I guess just call me Lambchop! My Baa-d!
This takes me back to the beginning, now. Do I listen to that little cherub on the shoulder who says “Be afraid, be very afraid!” Do I put my head between my legs and kiss my ass goodbye? Because the “jury is still out” on the whole Mayan calendar thing, I am gonna live my life one day at a time. I’m not going to hide away or give away all my earthy possessions. So, no, I’m not getting rid of my Xena, Warrior Princess DVD collection before December 21, 2012. I will rise above the superstition and fear! I will act the same goofy way I always do. But please keep this in mind… If the end does happen and we’re all loading onto the bus for the hereafter, save me a seat, I’m right behind you, buddy!
Jester Reggie
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