It’s nearly Christmas. Hey fellas, know anyone who wants to buy a second hand bible? It is the best book on earth. This particular one is well read and loved. Single owner. I have had it for years.
The bible stories are really the best. It has history, Godly teachings and plenty of drama. There’s nothing quite like it.
I love going to church too. The high ceilings, shiny floors and rows and rows of neatly lined up seats. I feel calm the moment I enter one. My mind stops and I submit to its tranquility. People who come here are nice people. They dress well, they are friendly and civil. Fabulous vibes.
You know, they took me as I am, warts and all. They forgive my sins. They want the best for me. They even call me their son. It feels great to belong. There’s so much kindness and compassion. We discuss at lengths about service, justice and fairness.
The next benefit is a biggie. It frees me from having to worry about what happens when death comes. I know that I will go to heaven. As long as I go to confession and make regular donations, I’ll be well looked after. It is always more blessed to give than to receive.
We are so blessed to have women in our lives too. They play an extremely important role. They sacrifice themselves to give us the most precious thing – babies. We love our women. They clean, cook, raise the children and submit to their husbands. It’s their sacred duties.
Well, truth be told, it isn’t sacred really. But if we say that it is, then they’ll have to do it. If they don’t, we’d become extinct. Can’t have that.
So, women don’t need a voice. We can speak for them. You give them a voice and they’ll want to change things. What a nightmare. Keep them down and we can get on with the important things. Govern, grow and prosper.
We’ll look after them though. They spend their lives raising kids. They don’t know how to build bridges and dams.
With the LGBTQI etc people, they are perfect. We can unleash our poison on them. Blame them for all the things that had gone wrong in our own lives. They deserve our wrath because the Bible said so.
Alright, alright, it was only minor mention and unrelated to the key message of the good book. But their oddities give us a platform for “us and them”. Wonderful for bonding. Strengthens our identity.
Well, you may say that’s prejudice. But it’s a small price to pay for good, stable governance. That’s what it comes down to. Someone has to do the hard and dirty work. You create an underclass and you make them do the work willingly. You tell them God said so. It’s a win win. Seriously, what do you prefer? A whip or a good story?
Charity is a great tool. Everyone wishes for a higher power to save them when they’re stuck and feeling helpless. The softer the people are, the sooner they need help. The more help they get, the more they need help. Keep them vulnerable and give them charity. People love that. The givers as well as the receivers. Another win win.
But I’m not sure anymore. I have lived a long and privileged life. My beloved mother raised nine children. I had never seen her without an apron except on Sundays. There, she put on a dress and a grim face to go to church. She was obedient and dutiful. When I noticed how old, small and worn out she was, I wish we had treated her better. Wasn’t she a child of God too?
My older sister was very clever, much more intelligent than me. But there wasn’t enough money for all the kids to go to school. So all the boys went and the girls didn’t. I could argue the unfairness of it and even felt bad for my sister. But why rock the boat when things are going your way? So she got married instead and later died in child birth. The doctor said it was a choice between the mother or the child. They chose the child. My nephew lived on. He grew up without a mother and got mixed up with the wrong crowd. He later robbed, terrorised and maimed. Why didn’t they choose my sister?
Then my baby brother turned out to be a sissy and shamed the family. We kicked him out mercilessly. I was so angry I could’ve punched him. He used to worship me when he was little. I still remember the hurt in his eyes when he looked to me for help and I looked away. Why was I so cruel?
When my workers encountered financial woes, I would make sure that I give them a little extra to bail them out. They loved me for it. What they didn’t know was that I could have developed and promoted them so that they won’t need my financial help in the future. But I liked them being dependent on me. Why couldn’t I be a bigger person?
It’s easy to see the injustice now. It wasn’t as easy when I had something to gain from it. That’s why I’m selling my Bible. A book should be read, particularly a fine one like this. I didn’t know how to read this good book. I just used it. I used it for me and against others. It should go to someone who can read it properly.
So fellas, if you know anyone who can read the book properly, please let me know. Perhaps someone like Jesus. A real man. Courageous, compassionate and fair. Let me know if you do. Merry Christmas fellas!
