Casual conversations with Jesus

A short note from Jesus - "leaving Wisconsin, some thoughts on my experiences here."

 

 
Giovanni, 

Looks like my stay in Wisconsin is about to end and I can’t help but have a few thoughts about my experiences. A lot of folks here on both sides of the issue talked about having faith and how that’s supposed to help them to eventual victory – whatever that is. 

Unfortunately, the concept of faith has become a slogan more than a reality.  

Everyone here only saw there side.  Real faith requires the surrender of individual egos to complete the cycle. I am afraid only the few have arrived at this point. 

It’s a shame your institutions, including your organized religions, keep so many of you from seeing this.  But even this excuse eventually becomes bogus and sooner or later you are going to have to make the choice. 

The human propensity to always find a reason caused by something or someone else for not becoming what you are meant to be astonishes me! But then again, that was the reason for my being in the first place. 

It also occurs to me, I am nothing without your faith. I am supposed to exist for you. But all of that is meaningless unless you have faith in the goodness of your being and you’re never ending consciousness.  

Enough of this serious stuff - I will be driving back and I am looking forward to the trip.  It doesn’t get the attention it should, but driving across the United States is still one of the world's great adventures. 

See you soon.  Till then ….

Jesus

 

A short note from Jesus - still in Wisconsin

 March 4, 2011 

Another short note from Jesus -- still in Wisconsin

 
Giovanni, 

Same old stuff going in here. I thought in the beginning that something good was going to come out of this but now I am not sure. 

People are wearing out.  The side with the biggest stick is going to win simply because they will be the only ones standing at the end.  What else is new with you folks?  No one ever seems to learn. 

This will be over in the next few days and I will see you soon.  As they say, “keep the faith.”  Pardon me if I see some humor in this at the moment. 

Till then …. 

Jesus

 
Photo by Josette Lodato

 

Jesus is still in Wisconsin - Here is his latest short note

 
I don't know when Jesus will be back from Wisconsin, but he asked me to share this short note with you.

Giovanni, 

Just a quick note.  Things here are out of hand.  There is very little good will on either side.  It’s no longer about resolution, but who is going to win.  This is the worst side of the human experience.  What else is new?  This is the whole reason for my existence in the first place. 

Very few people know that I tried to form a labor union with my father (Joseph) when I first became a carpenter.  There was very little work, and the Roman puppets were the most oppressive employers you can imagine.  I will fill you in later on the details, it’s an interesting story. 

Got to run.  Looks like something might be happening.  Till next time … 

Jesus

 

Politics here in Wisconsin are wild. It’s good to have a break.

 

Giovanni, 

I have a brief moment, thought I would say hello.  Politics here in Wisconsin are wild.  It’s good to have a break.  My experiences of the last few days got me thinking about gratitude. 

Gratitude is not an easy thing.  The inherent selfishness that seems endemic to you guys keeps me working all the time.  You folks need to focus on the gifts you have. They are so many and so easy to take for granted. 

The deadly sin is to compare yourself to others.  Nothing is worse since the focus is not on what you have, but on what you don’t have. 

So, how about getting with it and show some gratitude.  Go out and do something for somebody today.  You might be surprised how well this works. 

I will call you when I get back from Wisconsin.  Things are still in a mess here.  See you when I get back.  Till then ……… 

Jesus

P.S. Loved your recent piece in http://giovanniandfranco.com

 

 

" It was hard to know if Jesus favored one side or the other." Brother Franco

 
I just received a note from Brother Franco who is on assignment in Wisconsin for Pizzaonian News Service letting me know that he had a brief visit with Jesus.

Brother Franco said “It was a short visit during one of the demonstrations at the capital.  It was hard to know if Jesus favored one side or the other, but when the wind blew I believe I saw an AF of L- CIO button pinned underneath his coat collar.”

Brother Franco did not have time to elaborate since he had to cover a news conference that was just beginning.  If I hear more, I will pass it on.

Brother Giovanni

 

 

Wow, Jesus is off to Wisconsin.

 

Just got a voice mail form Jesus.  Let me share it with you.

Giovanni,

I won’t be able to meet this week.  I am off to Wisconsin.  Let you know soon as I get back.

Wow, Jesus is off to Wisconsin.  Wonder which side HE is on.

Brother Giovanni

 

Without the choice of good or evil, you would not be free.

 

This morning when I arrived at the park for my meeting with Jesus I found this short note.

Brother Giovanni,

Why are we humans created with a duplicitous nature of good and evil existing in the same person?  I believe that is the heart of the question you asked me.

The answer should be obvious but it eludes most of us. Without the choice you would not be free.  If you could only be good, or only be evil, you are not a free person.  You could have choices as to the degree of good or evil you could bring into being, but that is not freedom.

It would be like locking someone in a room and saying you are free to do anything you want in this room, but you cannot leave the room.

The real question is what are you going to do with this freedom? You can see how freedom brings responsibility.  Think about it and let me know what you think?

Your friend, Jesus

 

But it also begs the question, why were we created this way in the first place?

 
Jesus,

Thank you for the note and the provocative thoughts - much to think about.  Let me muse a bit on how I see things. Wow! This does seem strange to be talking to you like this – but, you did say you wanted a genuine, human relationship.  If I go over the line here, you’re going to have to let me know.

Your original followers, at least in the beginning, must have been the closest you came to a normal relationship with anyone.  But, I would think as they saw how different you were, plus the following you were beginning to attract, it became harder for them to relate to you.

It’s occurred to me that serious doubts and misgivings must have been going on in your mind too as you began to realize who you were and what you were being asked to do.  When I think of what that must have been like, I am sure it was a rough time for you.  I have read from various scripture historians that your family probably wasn’t too thrilled with you either. 

Your were the oldest son and a mainstay of your family’s earning power and now you were running off and leaving all of that behind.  I am sure there were serious concerns from your immediate family on how you were beginning to act, and how it was going to affect them.

 
I would love to know what the critical point was for you.  When did you finally realize who you were?  Also, how about John the Baptist, what was your relationship with him, and was he the one who made you realize who you were?  Questions, questions, but I have thought about this for a long time and this is an opportunity to have them answered. Forgive me if I am going over the line here.  I am trying to tread carefully.  Hopefully, I will get used to this as our new relationship unfolds.

But I need to get back to the questions and points you brought up in your note this morning.  One of the problems we earthlings have to deal with is the dual nature of how we see you and relate to you.  There is quite a difference between Jesus, the man, and Jesus, the God. This creates a huge separation between us and it is hard for us to reconcile the difference.  Until now, I had no idea what a huge gap this is.  Jesus, the God, trumps everything else.

As for us ordinary people and our inability to accept our “brokenness” that’s a tough one to answer directly. As we have evolved our dual capacity to be both God like and animal like creates many problems.  We are a combination of sinners and saints, capable of great good and great evil. 

This contradiction coexists within each of us and creates a serious impediment for us to be able to live up to your expectations.  Obviously, this is why you had to sacrifice yourself in the first place. For that we will always be grateful. If one believes in Karma there was no other way for this imbalance to right itself. 

 
But it also begs the question, why were we created this way in the first place?  I have a feeling you are going to ask me to work this one out for myself. I think this is enough for today.  I look forward to our next meeting, or your next letter.  Thank you for everything.

Your friend,

Brother Giovanni

Casual conversations with Jesus: On what it means to be fully human

 

When I went for my morning meeting with Jesus he was not there.  I did find this note for me.  He asked me to share his thoughts with you.

Giovanni,

Sorry I can’t be with you today.  It’s a busy time for me and as much as I look forward to our meetings I have to take care of other pressing business.  I am sure you understand.  I wrote down these few thoughts before I left and will share them with you.

As hard as this may be to understand, I enjoy the opportunity to be fully human.  I know it’s commonplace to hear that I AM  the perfect human, and theologically I AM, but what is often misunderstood, is to enjoy and comprehend the human experience with all it’s mosaic richness, is to embrace being an average human being.

Also, when I AM allowed to be an average person, experiencing all that you do, it makes the magnificence of life all the more meaningful. I AM always asked “Don’t’ I already know all of this?”  Yes, theologically I do, but it’s the fabric of the vulnerability of the human experience that drew our Father to love all of us in the first place. 

 
In so many words, being human with all it foibles is what makes us so loving. More of you need to know and grasp the significance of this, and if you did, things would change for the better quickly. You would discover the heart of “loving” is in accepting your vulnerability.

You know get the “plank out of your eye, and stop worrying about the splinter in your neighbor’s eye” well that’s not just some cute slogan.  Within the context of that statement is the meaning of Christianity.

If you folks would understand your “brokenness” and except it with some genuine humility, we would be well on our way to understanding the meaning of what I AM about in this world.  So far, unfortunately, even though you've had the history of the last 2000 years to learn, you folks still don’t get it.

Give this some thought and we can talk about it more the next time I see you.  Again, thank you for letting me be “human” in the full sense of what that means and for accepting me as such.  I get plenty of attention in my other roles and my experience with you has been refreshing.

Until next time,

Your friend, Jesus        

  

It seems you always intentionally make the simplest things so complicated!

 
You will find the excerpts of my conversation with Jesus a bit different in tone than before.  It seems the topic of why Christians are seen by so many people as hypocrites and bigots took our conversation in a more serious direction.

As before, we are not including the usual perfunctory remarks that start most conversations and I am only allowed the use the recording that is left behind after each conversation 

G: That’s me     J: That’s Jesus. 

J:  You raised the ante in our last conversation when you got into the “why are so many of my followers considered hypocrites?” And, even though I started these meetings intending to be casual, I don’t want you to lose sight of who I AM.  Casual as this conversation may be, I still want to make sure a certain sense of decorum and a modicum of respect is maintained between us.

 
G: Wow, I am sorry if I offended you.  It’s not easy being with you this way - I mean as an ordinary person, and as said before, “so human.”  I was beginning to feel like we were becoming good friends.  I know you are the Messiah and I am the saved. And for that I am thankful. But our relationship now seems more like someone I hang out with. I guess I presumed certain liberties I shouldn’t have.  From now on I will be more careful.

J:  Well, part of it is my fault. Few Christians appreciate that the human side of my personality is as human and they are – actually more so. And, you have to remember in the beginning, the first time around; I wasn’t taken very seriously either.  I suspect that’s made me more sensitive than I should be. Enough of this, let’s get back to your question at our last conversation.

G: You mean my original question, “How can a faith that preaches love and tolerance be perceived as hypocritical by so many people?"

 
J: Yes that question.  But first we have to clear up a few things.  First of all I have to communicate with millions of people. You’re all on different paths on the road to discovering God.  What I say to you and you accept as ok could start a full scale riot in other parts of the world. You’re going to have to think beyond your personal, and I might add, your parochial perspective for me to make sense to you. 

And remember, it wasn’t that long ago when your ancestors were running all over the known world burning people at the stake, torturing and impaling others, and all in our Father’s name.  Man, did we have to grin and bear that one. 

G: Why didn’t you do something about it? 

J: Again you obviously don’t get it. You’re supposed to be a free people.  Part of the deal in making you free is to allow you to make all of the decisions and take responsibility for them. 

G: What happened to all of those people who were treated shamelessly? 

J: We had to come up with other ways to make it up to them. 

G: What’s that supposed to mean? 

 

J: I am starting to bring up subjects I am not supposed to talk about.  Maybe at a later time I can share more with you – perhaps when we meet on the other side. 

G: Your non-answer doesn’t help much – now I am really curious, but I better leave well enough alone. 

J: Good idea. I am going to have to go pretty soon, but I do want to give you one more thing to think about. One thing that has really bothered me over the last 2000 years is the need for humans to control everything. 

G: Does that mean including you? 

J:Yes, especially including me. And you’ve developed ingenious ways of doing it. And it’s not just in religion. It seems you always intentionally make the simplest things so complicated you have to have experts take over to run and explain things. And the experts inevitably create the bureaucracy that always follows.

Before you know it it’s so complicated I have trouble understanding it. You do it with everything and its part of the problem.  I get agitated every time I think about it. 

But that’s enough for today - we can talk more tomorrow.  Till then...

Posted by Brother Giovanni, Worldonian Bureau Chief, Pizzaonian News Service