Popular Post asanerman Posted September 25, 2011 Popular Post Share Posted September 25, 2011 Forgive me, my little one! “In the pure air and dry heat of an Arizona afternoon on the summer before the death of God,” writes Sam Keen, “my father and I sat under a juniper tree. I listened as he wrestled with the task of taking the measure of his success and failure in life.” --from To a Dancing God I have reached my own “season” of “wrestling with taking measure,” specifically how I failed my daughter! What saddens me to the depths is all those Sundays we spent “in God’s house!” Would that I had taken you into the world each Sunday rather than into those brick and mortar “cathedrals” of worship. Would that we had wander the foreign as well as the familiar streets of our city, rather than fretting our lives away in Sunday School. Would that I had introduced you to that legless man who played the saxophone for meals. That was twenty-two years ago, you were only twelve and you tell me that you still think of him. Rather that I had introduced you to the pangs of life than to pomp and piety. Would that I had taken you into nature and shared with you the sounds and smells of wonder and grace and to let you dance at the sight of bug, bird and bear. I do remember the expression on your face when you saw your first cow. I remember seeing your amazement of the ocean. And for the life of me can I understand when or how I thought you could experience life in all its complexity, wonder, depth and heart break in a brick and mortar cathedral listening and learning second hand information! Forgive me my little one for not taking you on Sunday field trips into the world where firsthand experience is the only requirement needed or necessary! Marcel Proust said: “The only paradise is paradise lost.” How do you forgive someone for killing love? 11 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator florduh Posted September 25, 2011 Super Moderator Share Posted September 25, 2011 Damn! That was awesome. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Margee Posted September 25, 2011 Moderator Share Posted September 25, 2011 Wow! good stuff saner!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eugene39 Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Saner, that's excellent! Been doing some introspection myself on how differently things could have been, but...sadly, were not. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
noob Posted September 25, 2011 Share Posted September 25, 2011 Ah, asanerman you are such a poet. Thank you for sharing so much of yourself. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
asanerman Posted September 26, 2011 Author Share Posted September 26, 2011 folrduh, Margee, Eugene39 and noob, Words cannot express my appreciation for your having ears to hear an old man "wrestling in the dark!" saner Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeasabird Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Bravo!!!!!!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BrotherJosh Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Well written! I thoroughly enjoyed it, +1! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Super Moderator buffettphan Posted September 26, 2011 Super Moderator Share Posted September 26, 2011 Absolutely Beautiful! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Galien Posted September 26, 2011 Share Posted September 26, 2011 Brought up both my kidlets in the church. Neither of them are believers now, but both tell me they appreciated an upbringing which taught them how to be honest and kind, didn't have drunks for parents and learnt a lot from christians about who they didn't want to be Cut yourself some slack dad Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HappySinner Posted September 28, 2011 Share Posted September 28, 2011 asanerman, your words are beautiful and express the kind of apology I wish I could someday hear from my fundy folks. However, I'm with Galien on this one. Kids don't come with instruction manuals, and I'm sure you did the best you could with the knowledge you had at the time. So you were wrong. We all were at one time or another. That's why we're here. Out of curiosity, is your daughter still christian? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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