This is the conclusion to Fool’s Odyssey. To read it from the beginning, click here.
Epilogos: Easter Morning
Previously: The Fool’s search ended in the forest near a California grammar school.
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Later, on my third morning home in L.A.,
I snuck into a church and,
after everyone had gone home or on to the relative’s houses,
stole a Bible from a pew.
I spent most of the afternoon reading it.
There were things I’d never seen before.
Oh, they’d been there, but had somehow been invisible.
Until now.
Mostly I remember this:
The invisible things of God,
since the creation of the world,
have been made visible through that which can be seen.
And so are you without excuse,
because, when you might have known God,
you chose instead
to hold to your vain imaginings.
Your heart was darkened.
Professing to be wise, you chose instead
to become a fool
and worship creation,
instead of your Creator.
My foolish heart was broken.
Flash–darkness–flash–darkness–
Oh God.
Oh Hell.
Flash–darkness–flash–darkness–
Red—black–red—black–red—black—
“…just like every other cursed thing.”
Flash–darkness–flash–darkness–
Water, water, water, water–clouds.
Oh, God!
O Hell!
Flash–darkness–flash–darkness–
“Jump! Jump! Jump!”
Oh, God!
O Hell!
Flash–darkness–flash–darkness–
Then, somehow, I found these words:
“Come unto Me.”
And I understood.
I finally understood.
“Come unto Me,” it said,
“and I will give you rest.”
And so I did.
I finally did.
Wherefore, said the wise man,
remember now thy Creator
in the days of thy youth, while the evil days come not,
nor the years draw nigh when thou shalt say,
I have no pleasure in them;
while the sun, or the light, or the moon,
or the stars, be darkened,
nor the clouds return after the rain;
ere ever the silver cord be loosed,
or the golden bowl broken,
or the pitcher smashed at the fountain;
then shall the dust return to the earth,
and the spirit unto God who gave it.
Vanity;
all is vanity and chasing after wind.
Wherefore, said the wise man,
remember thy Creator.
The words of the wise man,
the son of David,
the king in Jerusalem.
The words of the fool,
the sun had set,
the time had come.
∞ Teleo ∞
Pingback: Fool’s Odyssey 26 | Mitch Teemley
Mitch, I have enjoyed your adventures and misadventures with the Fool. It is best to “come to me” as a youth and avoid the fool route. I just posted “trusting sweeter frames” which present the same line of thought.
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Good to know. I’ll take a look, Oneta!
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Can’t say following the Fool has been a fun journey – so much is too similiar to my walk, but it’s been a great one. Thank God and thank you so much for it. Do keep reposting this series, Mitch.
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Thank you, Roo. Don’t know when I’ll repost it. Maybe next year?
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So nice. Thank you, Sir. Just a notice only : ” Teleos ” is the word you wanted to write for the ” End “. Right ? But it is ” Telos “. To make you laugh : ” Teleos ” means and is equal to ” Perfect “. Take care & enjoy.
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Thanks, Outsego. I used the word teleos intentionally, which can also be translated “finished,” as a reference to Jesus’ words on the cross, “It is finished.” However, it appears I should have written teleo. (I’m not a student of biblical Greek, just a frequent looker-upper ;>).
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You’ re just fine, Sir. And you ‘re right when you say it can be translated as “finished”. Actually, the word that gives exactly the verb’s tense – and it is written that is the word he used- is “Τετέλεσται” (or Tetelestai). I suspected there was an intention , but I was curious …lol… The funny thing is that I’m not religious but I respect the tradition, the literature & the poetry. By the way, nice to meet you Mitch.
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Yes indeed. Tetelestai, “It is finished,” was the last thing Jesus said on the cross before commending his spirit to the Father.
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And nice to meet you, too. What’s your name, my friend?
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