Good 2016

This is not a guilt trip. Things happen and we're guilty, yes, but this is not a guilt trip.

We like to place blame and really, there's plenty to go around. But the point isn't to make us feel bad or shameful.

We're doing the best we can, right? Everyone is doing what we think is best. And we think all kinds of things for all kinds of reasons and some of those reasons are misguided at best. Some are, in retrospect, somewhere on a scale of regrettable to evil. But hindsight is 20/20, right? In the moment, we are doing what we can. For whatever reason. We're responsible, but that isn't really the point.

And, well, things get out of hand, you know? We thought this was a good idea and by the time we realize it's not, it's rolling downhill with a lot of weight and crushing people and . . . it just gets away from us.

So we're guilty and responsible and full of bad ideas, but this isn't a guilt trip. A guilt trip would miss the point.

What's the point?

We don't know what we're doing.

Let's Kill Him

Triumphant, victorious,
our One True King comes to us
Humble riding on a donkey
Shout aloud, loving cups
Behold! A king comes to us
...Humble, riding on a donkey
The Savior, scattering the money
Coming, the pushing and the shoving

Let's kill Him

When I first heard this lyric sung by Sarah Masen on her 2007 ep, A History of Light and Shadow, I laughed out loud. If you don't know this singer/songwriter (and you should), you may not know she sometimes sings a thin, almost girlish voice, airy and innocent. The voice helped add to my laughter. It was a laugh of surprise as much of humor. This sweet voice recounting the Messiah's triumphant entry into Jerusualm and then simply deciding, "let's kill him."

Of course, it's a sad thing, too. Someone comes preaching good news to the poor and release to the captives, and we shout out "Hosanna!" because we want our bit of salvation, too. Then, we see who he means. He means not only (or necessarily!) us, but also those people over there. You know the ones. Those people.

And when you get right down to it, isn't he kind of sickening? Putting on this show of humility, riding a donkey, acting all lowly? C'mon, you're our King. This is amusing and we'll praise you for it, but now, let's get down to business. When are you going to overthrow our oppressors? When do we get to see them get theirs?

What? We don't? You're not gonna? This royally pisses me off.

Let's kill him.

It's funny because it's true. That's how we are.

It's sad for the same reason.