Be Prepared. How?

A. Unabashed Pacifist:

Peace arrived on a donkey, not piloting a fighter plane.

B. Unabashed Christian:

Holy One,

I wonder about the surrogate father, Joseph. A carpenter, so he had some practical skills. A dreamer, so he had a mystical bent, too. Apparently a devout believer, but one who showed mercy upon Mary. Father to Jesus’ half-siblings, so apparently an adequate provider.

What did he think of Jesus? How did he influence Jesus? Did he have Samaritan connections? Was he a zealot, or did he have Essene inclinations? When and how did he die? Was he, too, one of Rome’s victims?

I just wonder about this man who must have helped shape Jesus. I wish more attention had been paid to him… I imagine you know all about him.
Amen

C. Un-quoting Jesus:

“Dad, can I have a new donkey for Hanukah? Jacob and Barnabas are getting one.”

[No. That’s not in any of the stories from His childhood.]

D. Blog: Prepared For Life

Sometimes I wonder whether Divinity could have given us some preparation for what we would encounter in this life. But perhaps the only preparation we need is in our genes and a collective species memory. Perhaps our tools of observation provide what we need from the moment of birth, or even before birth. Certainly more preparation comes from parents and others who nurture and instruct us to deal with "life in the real world."

Perhaps any more prior preparation would make us less creative and adaptable in our responses to life. And perhaps any additional preparation prior to birth would be as senseless as trying to prepare for what comes after death.