Well, it seems that I have a new alter-ego. (Or, maybe that's "altar" ego, haha!) Anyway, the now famous (or, maybe it's more like "infamous") Pastor Neecy came on the scene at the talent show on Oct. 15, and things just aren't quite the same. Mailman Stevie just seems to get her going!
One of the things that Pastor Neecy seems concerned with is that old rascal "Satan." Nasty guy, that Satan. Seems that he's the cause of all our downfall..... all our ills...... all our misfortune! Of course, it can't be anything with us...... it's all Satan. That way, we don't have to take responsibility. Or...... do we?
Through the ages "the devil" or "Lucifer" or "The Evil One" or "Satan" has been blamed for everything from the fall of "man," to the betrayal of Judas. Comedian Flip Wilson (from the 1960's and early 70's) even had a whole act built around "The devil made me do it!" Well, who knows..... maybe so. But in reality, the concept of Satan runs much deeper than that. Volumes and volumes have been written throughout the ages. Names for "him" have been analyzed from the Hebrew and Greek. And, there are still many questions. When did this character actually appear in ancient writings? What does "his" name mean? How are we to understand this "character." I could go on and on.
My question, however, is why do we try to embody that which is within our own humanity, our own character, as a kind of stereotypical "red devil" with a long spear-like tail, and horns? Someone, or something, that we can blame our own mistakes and bad judgment on? Who, or what, is this adversary? I'm not saying that there is not evil..... REAL evil..... in this world. I'm just saying that before we blame some real or imagined catalyst for our own mistakes, lapses in judgment, bad attitudes, bad decisions, and the ensuing consequences, we should first be looking deep within ourselves to see what the root cause is. And that, my beloved, is our humanness. That is our human condition. It includes all of us!
So, next time you blame something or someone else for a bad decision on your part, just ask yourself, did the devil really make me do it?.... or, do I take responsibility. Just sayin'......
By the way, if you've never experienced Flip Wilson's "The Devil Made Me Do It," it's a classic!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0SLifea3NHQ
