Pastor Kerry’s children’s message this morning was about the Prodigal Son, one of my favorite stories. It illustrates the endless love of Christ. If we were judged like we judge others, we would be in dire straits.

‘This is the time to clean up financially,’ the Executive Assistant said. ‘We are on the inside and it is good to be the king,’ EA continued. ‘Many people are suffering, but the right people are in the catbird seat,’ EA laughed. ‘Things have never been so good for the right Party,’ EA noted. ‘Just our knocking on the door strikes fear into the civil service staff,’ EA grinned. ‘We have a Get Out Of Jail Free Card,’ EA mused. ‘We are giants among mortals,’ EA proclaimed.

‘Excuse me, sir, but your father has called for you over a dozen times,’ the Executive Assistant’s Assistant told her boss. ‘Your Dad asked that you come to Sunday dinner,’ EAA informed the Boss. ‘He said that he loves you and is praying for you,’ EAA said with a smile.

‘He is a good man salt of the earth…I am sure he is praying…he prays unceasingly,’ EA said softly. ‘Dad never forces his will on me and I am sure he is worried about me in my new political role,’ EA remarked. ‘Dad told me that the meek would inherit the Earth,’ EA whispered.

‘Where is my EA at…I need him to brainstorm on more cuts to the federal civil service and the making of a new America,’ M said. ‘EA is instrumental in closing government jobs that help the poor and waste our taxpayer money,’ M said with satisfaction. ‘He comes from working people…his Dad is a country preacher…he knows the terrain,’ M noted.

‘Dad, I am lonely, tired, and afraid…I am ashamed of my role in the devastation of so many people like us,’ EA said with remorse. ‘Can I come home and sweep the church after service?’ EA asked? ‘I was never happier than when you told me of Christ’s love and care for the poor and forgotten of his time,’ EA somberly said.

‘Come, my beloved son…Preacher is here with a timely word for us,’ Dad said. ‘Preacher said your boss M came to him at night and asked if he could tell him of Peace,’ Dad said. ‘Preacher welcomed M into his hut in the woods and they ate fish and drank wine,’ Dad told his son.

‘Elon, I knew you before you were born and loved you,’ Preacher said. ‘Your mother was my friend,’ Preacher said softly. ‘I told her I would care for you,’ Preacher promised…

Rain today, tomorrow storms. Life in Southern Illinois. We carried our happiness with us. We wore a cloak of peace. We held an olive branch in our hands. Our Vice President insults our greatest allies. Many of them have died in our wars protecting us. This passes for wisdom among the potsherds.

The smallness of our actions reveals our diminished role on the world stage. We march headlong into the battle for the soul of America. Which soul are we reflecting? Is it the soul of life acceptance and diversity, or is it the soul we seek the destruction of all who are in our way of achieving our goals?

Job scraped himself with a potsherd when his boils erupted with pus. He sat among the ashes. Job cried out to God. So it goes when we forget who we are. We lose the plot. A story as old as time. Give us a Golden Calf that we may worship, the Israelites said to Aaron. They got weary of waiting for Moses on Mt. Sinai. Perhaps God forgot them and became preoccupied with more interesting pursuits. Maybe he found little people he liked better. What if it was nothing but a big tease?

Addiction is hard to quit. Smoking kills as people puff merrily to the grave. We seek those who will fill our itching ears with a balm that validates our fears and conspiracy theories. Unemployment is at historical lows, so let’s fire thousands of people…that will make the economy boom…

‘Why is life so complex?’ The woman asked the Preacher? ‘Leader tells us to trust him and that he represents God…but the things he asks of us are bizarre,’ the Woman continued. ‘Is it true that only a few humans are predestined for Heaven while the rest are chaff upon the thresing floor,’ the Woman asked with tears in her eyes?

‘People across the Earth are suffering and sit among the potsherd hungry and hurting, yet all aid for them has been withdrawn in favor of better government,’ the Man said. ‘The hopeful have become hopeless… is this how it should be with God?’ The Man asked. ‘To take from those who have nothing and give to those who have everything is an abomination,’ the Man said as he spat upon the ground!

‘This is how nations devolve,’ the Preacher said. ‘Faith in God raises a nation until it becomes rich…then it seeks exclusively what money can buy,’ the Preacher admonished. ‘The greatest gift life…is here one moment and gone the next yet men and women believe how they are today is how they will always be,’ the Preacher said. ‘A dream shaded in a foggy mirror is the promise…many can not see it,’ the Preacher quietly said.

Does a tree fall in the forest if no one sees or hears it? The compelling draw of the woods is the times of total silence. Silence is such an unusual experience in our industrial society that it is gripping in its blanket covering. Quiet frightens people. They look for words to fill the void. Noise is commerce, success, and progress, and silence is haunting in its requirements. Silence fosters thought. What words are needed, or are they necessary?

‘We have been gathering for hours and still more come,’ He said. ‘We are tired of the fight and weary of the battle,’ He continued. ‘The manic proclamations of the powerful are like weights and chains to our souls, He sadly said.

‘So many meaningless words lies told for truth,’ She said. ‘The Chattering Class has robbed our peace,’ She continued. ‘The obsession of speech for speech’s sake has replaced meaning and purpose,’ She sighed. ‘Insult is lauded as wit while cogent thought is demeaned for its logic,’ She observed.

‘Come and pray with me for an hour,’ Preacher said as he walked alone. ‘The Deceiver told me that I could have all of the kingdoms,’ Preacher said as he looked over the busy city. ‘Jerusalem Jerusalem, how often would I have gathered you as a hen gathers her chicks under her wing,’ the Preacher said.

‘Friends are now enemies,’ the Leader said. ‘Enemies are friends,’ the Leader continued. ‘I will sell you a great car,’ the Leader extolled. ‘The more hardworking people we fire, the better our country will be,’ The Leader promised. ‘We don’t need any stinking vaccines, just better vitamins and raw milk,’ the Leader said with a smirk.

I enjoy observing. We introverts are watchers. We see and contemplate what we have seen. We want to be part of the crowd. Part of the In Group and the Cool Kids. When I was a lad, all the boys liked blue jeans. I did not care for denim. I wore slacks. Where did the hats go? There is a plethora of caps but not hats. The man or woman who wears a hat stands apart. Once, you wore coordinated clothing, no brown shoes, and black trousers. Now it is free-for-all with good reason. Men always took their hats/caps off in the house. My friend from first grade, Jackie, forgot to take his hat off, and the teacher would admonish him to take his hat off in the house and place it in the cloak room. I wondered why the teacher called the school the house and what a cloak was.

There were few tattoos in my youth; today’s youth have tattoos. A Venezuelan man was arrested for having a tattoo in honor of his brother and autism. Are tattoos now illegal?

‘They marched him through the streets with blood dripping in his eyes from his head wounds,’ Mother said. ‘Laughed they did and spit on him while mocking him,’ Mother continued. ‘He walked bowed over to the waist with no defense or response to the torture,’ Mother cried.

‘Preacher said to give the government what was theirs and give God what is his,’ Child said. ‘He admonished us to think of a better kingdom,’ Child whispered. ‘Preacher held my hand when I was afraid and I felt safe,’ the Child cried.

‘Look for his followers, they have his appearance,’ the Centurian said. ‘You there…I have seen you with him,’ Centurian asked Fisherman. ‘Do not deny your affiliation with Preacher or I will frog march you through the streets like him,’ The Centurian demanded.

‘I do not know the man,’ the Fisherman said. ‘I have been on the seabank mending my nets and wondering what all the commotion was about,’ the Fisherman attested. ‘I would not know him if he stood before me,’ the Fisherman said as he spat on the ground.

‘America for Americans, the Leader cried with a gleam in his eyes. ‘Only those who look and act like us are acceptable as it was meant to be,’ the Leader said. ‘We are purifying the blood,’ the Leader danced on one foot and then the other.

The birds are singing. The grass is green. Blue sky is overhead with wisps of white feathery clouds. This is what living is meant to be. No hurry, no worry. Time for deep thoughts by Jack Handy. Hope for the future and forget the trials of the past. Baseball season begins today.

‘I think it is time to enter the magic mirror that Neva J has in her bedroom,’ Jane said. ‘We have not had a time travel adventure for a while,’ Jane continued. ‘Perhaps we can find the answers to life’s persistent questions,’ Jane mused…

‘Come in, I have uncovered the Antique Mirror,’ Neva J said with a wink. ‘It has our reflection in it, but we are different,’ she noted. ‘The bedroom looks Victorian and our clothes are from that era,’ Neva J said with surprise.

‘I wonder if we are looking at a parallel universe,’ Chet said. ‘I have read about the concept in physics where the universes travel in tandem until actions by humans cause them to vary from each other,’ Chet postulated. ‘Perhaps someone turned left when their counterpart turned right,’ Chet offered. ‘Maybe the United States elected different Presidents, causing a change in the mirror image,’ Chet considered.

‘Perhaps Hitler did not come to power in Germany,’ Billy B offered. ‘What if the Industrial Revolution did not happen or the proliferation of the Internet,’ Billy B considered. ‘What if people in the parallel universe never had television and thus read daily,’ Billy B said.

‘Have I got a deal for you,’ D said. ‘I have some miraculous liniment that will heal everything that ails you,’ D continued. ‘I take it myself daily and have no pain,’ D noted.

‘My goodness, what a snake oil salesman,’ Father said. ‘Amazingly, he makes any money with his jumbled syntax and strange pronouncements,’ Father continued. ‘He reminds me of a Carnival Barker,’ Father said.

Be all that you can be. With the right guidance, you can realize your full potential. Follow the leader. Many Christian churches have devolved into the Power Of Positive Thinking or a Tony Robbins seminar. Nothing wrong with positive thinking. Something is wrong with making the humble message of Christ a treatise for getting rich quickly.

There is an easy road to seeking a mentor to guide you in life’s journey. Mimic the mentor, and you will be successful like they are. Turn your thinking skills off and do as they do. Chris Hayes writes of the assault of attention capitalism on our minds and hearts, reordering ourselves and our politics.

So as we sit around the fine restaurant table with the resplendent tablecloth and accompanying accouterments we are compelled to peer at our cell phones. We must see what our internet influencer is doing.

I have never sought a mentor. Colleagues and friends have influenced me but my progress or lack thereof is not attached to another human. Obsession with a great leader results in cultish behavior. Ask the Lemmings how their follow-the-leader mentality is working for them.

I have been involved in church work for 57 years. I held some church positions but never wanted my fellow congregants influenced by my example. When I found some were watching I pointed them toward Christ Mentorship, not my poor facsimile.

Religious glitz and political glamour have deceived many. In a fish bowl, we see our reflection. We are not going to be rich by listening to a convincing speaker. The power of positive thinking means different things to different people.

‘Hello, why are you good people sitting next to the restaurant in the rain and cold,’ Preacher asked? ‘Have you no home, are you hungry,’ Preacher asked? ‘I will go in and order us food to take away and you can join me at my home for dinner and a shower…a good bed to rest your weary head,’ Preacher smiled and grabbed their outstretched hands.

‘I am sorry I took your seat at the head of the table, it seems right that you sit there,’ Elder said. ‘Your words are needed at the Board meeting,’ Elder said. ‘I can not follow you…you are eloquent,’ Elder said.

‘But we are all as an unclean thing, and all our righteousness are as filthy rags, and we all do fade as a leaf; and our iniquities, like the wind, have taken us away.’ Isaiah 64:6

I finished the second season of the show Severance on Apple TV +. It is a science fiction about people working at Lumon. Upon entering the 7th floor each morning they forget everything from their civilian life and only know what is happening during their workday. Leaving the elevator at the conclusion of the day they revert to their ‘Outie.’

Severance explores how we identify with corporate culture. We have work friends and relationships separate from our home outside. I have known people who never retired due to being afraid of what their lives would be without work.

Our psyche is fragile and malleable. We tend to agree with our peers. Identity carries over into other relationships. The more we hear a lie the more truthful it sounds.

‘I am working late again tonight,’ He said. ‘The Boss is counting on me and I can not let him down,’ He continued. ‘I am working for recognition of my efforts and the satisfaction that I am integral to the operation,’ He explained.

‘It seems you work many hours you are not paid for,’ She commented. ‘It would be nice to see some money for your efforts,’ She said. ‘I do not know your Boss nor his wife yet he seems to keep impinging on your time with me and your kids,’ She said with a frosty glare.

‘Boss introduced me to the CEO the other day and told him what a good employee I was,’ He said. ‘The CEO told me that the organization needed more staff like me,’ He smiled with the honor. ‘The Company could not make it without me,’ He pleaded.

‘Look, I received a gift bag from the Boss,’ Coworker said. ‘It has Snickers Bar and some jelly beans in it,’ Coworker happily said. ‘Did you get a Snickers Bar or Jelly Beans from the Boss,’ Coworker asked?

The times were dark, and the times were light. Despair was pervasive, and hope was resplendent. Suffering happened, and joy abounded. Life with all of its shades, twists, and turns.

We are broken but unbowed. Afraid but bold. Destroyed yet intact. The Teacher bore in his body the marks of his suffering. His message was peace in the face of hate.

Confusion reigns among the destroyers. The good life is meant for good people. Good people is a moving definition. It rains on the just and the unjust. Destruction leaves rubble. It is hard to live among the potsherds.

‘There is a Preacher in the woods that is drawing a crowd,’ Jane said. ‘He speaks of love and acceptance,’ Jane continued. ‘Not just the poor and homeless but middle-class people who have been fired for no reason since the first of the year are gathering to hear his kind words,’ Jane explained. ‘The Preacher speaks of hiding from the coming storm,’ Jane somberly mentioned.

‘Easter is almost here,’ Chet said. ‘I enjoy the sunrise service and the snacks after,’ Chet said. ‘The message of Christ’s resurrection resonates with me at the sunrise service…something about being there before daylight and watching the Sun come up,’ Chet winked. ‘Christ loved everyone not just the privileged,’ Chet noted. ‘Dad made his living by bricklaying and worked from dawn till dusk…he began as a Hod Carrier which was back-breaking work,’ Chet reminisced. ‘His skin was brown and wrinkled from the Sun and he believed that the promise of the United States extended to all in our nation,’ Chet concluded.

‘Gather around and make yourselves at home…my woods is your woods,’ Preacher said. ‘Fear clenches our hearts if we are different…we must normalize caring about people who are different than us,’ Preacher said.

Sunshine returned this afternoon. 2025 is strolling along. The second quarter is soon to arrive. ‘In 1903, Peter Rabbit was the first fictional character to be made into a patented stuffed toy, making him the oldest licensed character.’

‘I am so looking forward to the Easter Egg Hunt in the woods,’ Jane said. ‘There will be over 100 people participating,’ Jane continued. ‘I remember Peter promising to meet us in the woods for the Easter Egg Hunt a year ago,’ Jane reminisced. ‘Peter is a curious fellow with his blue jacket and mischievous air,’ Jane laughed. ‘Last year he tricked President Biden at the White House Easter Egg Roll and brought the house down with his stand-up comedy,’ Jane giggled.

‘Peter R is a wise rabbit,’ Chet said. ‘He attended Oxford University and read history,’ Chet noted. ‘Much of what we think of Easter came from him,’ Chet winked. ‘He thrives on being underestimated and has often got the upper hand by low expectations,’ Chet said. ‘Peter sharpened his wiles with Mr. McGregor,’ Chet smiled.

‘Line up for the Easter Egg Hunt,’ Mr. Ranger said. ‘The person who finds the golden egg wins,’ Mr. Ranger said. ‘This year we are joined by Mr. Musk who is evaluating our Woods and how we operate it,’ Mr. Ranger continued.

‘I have some good news due to all of the bad publicity I have been receiving, I have placed a check for 1 million dollars in the golden egg,’ EM said. ‘The lucky person who finds the egg will collect the money today and have a lovely Easter,’ EM smiled a crooked smile. ‘I have pulled myself up by my intelligence and ingenuity, you can too if you follow my example,’ EM proclaimed.

‘I found the golden egg,’ Washerwoman said with tears in her eyes

‘I found a golden egg also,’ Laid Off Federal Employee proclaimed.

‘I can not believe my good fortune…I have a golden egg also,’ Homeless Child said softly.

‘I would not have believed it if I had not seen it with my own eyes, Peter, you convinced 100 DOGE staff to each sign a check for 1 million dollars and we painted the eggs gold this morning before daylight…simply elegant,’ Peter’s Assistant said.

Peter Rabbit smiled and munched a carrot.

Gusts of 50 mph. Now that is wind. ‘We have more wind than we used to,’ said the old man to the old lady. ‘Too many beans,’ the old lady answered.

So there is wind, and there is wind. I think windmills would be highly functional in our neck of the woods. You can not see it, but it rules.

An Ill Wind blows from time to time. The animals know it. Mylo knows it and answers with a bark. We know it and yet look for the cause of our unease. Wars for no reason. Domestic disputes with no cause. Political strife that affects everyone.

There is magic in the wind if you listen. Angels blow in with the Windy Express. Fear turns to hope. Darkness is blown away. Clouds of despair evaporate under the revealed Sun.

The Voice can be heard in the wind. Slow and melodious with the certainty of purpose. Calming and assuring of your sense of place and who you are. Acceptance of the unique creation and talented person you have become.

The wind is spent in cruel words. Hurtful diatribes toward those not like us. Imaginations travel on the wind. Presumptions blow into our minds. Conspiracies take hold of our hearts.

‘The answer, my friend, is blowing in the wind,’…