Not since your humble observer once penned an opinion questioning the intentions of one of our local groups over a particular piece of property has the ire of some among us erupted Internetically to stratospheric levels.
And from our viewpoint, somewhere below the status quo, those comments of a highly emotional nature fueled by slight displeasure could be called a volcanic-like eruption of righteous indignation by another.
At the center of this email-centric outburst is a planned “Witches ride” through our downtown area. Not since Lady Godiva shunned all attire has attention been so riveted. Intentions of organizers, we’re told in a news story, is only to “…bring the community together and raise money for one lucky charity.”
A person should get the drift that this is intended as a charitable event and not a call for a Coven convention. But what often sets us apart in “The Friendliest City in the South” is how unfriendly we can be when faith and fun intersect, creating a vacuum where opinions count only if they’re ours.
Seems there’s a section of the community that believes supporting a witches’ ride is somewhat akin to inviting evil spirits onto our city streets. Citing chapter and verse, with a little personal interpretation tossed in, online has become an open pulpit suggesting bikers dressed as witches will be opening a Pandora’s box of sinful destruction.
This is in no way a condemnation of a person’s belief system. The example of Saul and his witch plus the threat of demonic shape-shifting spirits waiting to lure us astray can be considered legitimate in one’s faith argument. But, there is a big but coming.
But, the Book from which one quotes condemnation also gives us a hint of what our Father thinks about this judgement thing. Judgement is His. He says so. Judge only as we would like to be judged, He says. There’s plenty of examples of anti-judgmental sentiment in this fabulous history/education Book.
We’ve all heard the things one doesn’t want to debate in public and chief among them is religion. As noted earlier, the religion card has been dealt and in this humble opinion, has been overplayed. We understand one’s passion, but we do not accept the sinister sin insinuation. This ride is not a recruitment tool for borderliners with one foot in Hell and the other on a banana peel.
This proposed ride featuring a gathering of individuals in witch costumes is a fun thing for a good purpose. We don’t see anything transcendentally threatening from people pedaling for a purpose, and that purpose isn’t conjuring up demons on bicycles. Of course if we see a levitating bike/golf cart/side-by-side, we might have a change of mind.
Maybe the message should be to simply lighten up. If anyone doesn’t believe the Good Lord and His Son maintain a sense of humor, just look at the platypus … or Adam Schiff. When one’s faith is strong enough, it can survive costumes. We also might be well-served to remember that “let them cast the first stone” story. But as Daddy said, if you quote that be sure to duck. There’s always one.
Those whose suggestion has created a tidal wave of contradictive conclusions are called the “Opossum Posse” Brunch Club and while your humble servant hasn’t met any of the bunch, we wouldn’t be surprised if there was a sense of humor among the members. And we will forgive them for stickin’ an “O” where no possum would.
It’s easy to point a finger and cry sinner. It should be easier than that to look at the multiple fingers on that hand pointing back and consider forgiveness. We don’t see anything that needs forgiving, so why not be magnanimous. Don’t be one of those who sets standards for others that cannot be attained by the setters.
While we’re at it, let’s talk about the location that’s been mentioned as an ending point for the ride. Maybe before the witches dock their brooms, those who are so proud of the Miller Quarters could borrow a few of them and do a clean sweep of the area. There’s little tourist interest in a historic storm toppled tree and groundgrowth enough to hide a herd of farm animals.
