God is an absentee landlord and we are the tenants.
He created the world in six days, and then, on the seventh, he moved to a retirement community in Boca Raton, letting us fend for ourselves.
We are bad tenants. Without God nearby, we turned our Garden into a miserable dump.
“Where are you, God?” we cry. “Why have you forsaken us? Why do you leave us with death, illness, and decay? Why must we stand alone with so little guidance?”
God will not answer. He is too busy playing canasta with his friends.
But I have heard from God.
Oh, nothing dramatic like a Burning Bush or a Technicolor Dream.
God left us a Post-it Note on the front door.
Dear People,
You are not alone. But go look at the contract you signed. You need to take care of your shit yourselves. Grow some balls. I know you are weak. But I already gave you the three tools that will get you through every emergency.
I gave you rain. This will wash away the death and despair.
I gave you sun. This will give enable you to see.
And I gave you love. Which will make life worthwhile.
If any of you would rather trade in one of these tools for a new dishwasher instead, please leave a message at the rental office.
Now leave me the alone.
God
cc: prophets and angels.
++++
stewardship. freewill. love. He is with us always. Great post & photos Neil
Loved this. Is that you naked by the curtains?
Megan posted Fifty-Two, Week 10: Taking My Turn
I wouldn’t mind playing canasta with God.
karengreeners posted Looper Is Not a Kids’ Movie. Like I Had to Tell You. *SPOILERS*
Great photos, great post. This should be turned a song.
Earlier this year I took a photo from the exact same spot across from St. Patrick’s. Eerie…
Irish Gumbo posted Giving the Moon
Only three ways to really shoot it.
I love your photos.
Marinka posted Necessaries
Thank you.
Can I trade God in for the dishwasher? He doesn’t seem to be very helpful.
Casey posted Roozle’s Plate
I was hoping someone would make that joke!
If there is a Creator, it seems reasonable to believe He’s non-interventionist. But your story seems to tell us that he’s made moral judgements.
What if the Creator is not just non-interventionist, but amoral? I think this as likely as the Creator your write of here, Neil.
How would the story change? Would it?
The Honourable Husband posted Photo Friday: Mood
Interesting. Even though I don’t see myself as religious, I did spend many years in Hebrew school, and I suppose I do still see God in terms of morality, which is a very Jewish thing. I’ve explored the ideas of eastern religion, and find them very interesting, but still quite foreign to me.
Wonderful. All the way around.
Mitchell posted How Things Change
This post reminds of those signs in stores: “You break it, you buy it.”
I’m a landlord myself, so I will say this: LOVE this place that we share. ENJOY this home I built but you live in. CARE for it as if it were your own and understand that that means work. Fill this house with good memories and absorb the good times I left behind there.
V-Grrrl @ Compost Studios posted Bits and pieces
Did you just show me your ass?
Twenty Four At Heart posted The Painted Ladies, San Francisco
No. Photoshop.
I don’t believe in God, and it hardly ever rains here. It’s like living in the bowels of Hell, but less humid. Yet – I see actual clouds in the sky today, so maybe there is a God after all.
Also, I can’t grow balls no matter how hard I try. And if I DID suddenly develop them, it isn’t likely that I’d have more resilience to life’s challenges, but it IS likely that I’d sit around and scratch them a lot.
Love your stories and photos.
MissingMolly posted Your opinion is requested
Nicely done, Neil. I like the way you wove the photos and the text together. (I often see stories in your photos.)
alejna posted keep on path
I love this, just love it
There’s a lot to be said for rain, sun and love…although I personally believe that we have a little more guidance than that if we shut up and listen:)
Reminds me of the song God Is a Real Estate Developer by Michelle Shocked. Beautiful use of your pics and I love the cc: at the end.
Vikki posted If I Only Had the Nerve…
What kind of a deal can I make on snow? Keep in mind that I already have a dishwasher, but I can definitely do without the snow.
Nance posted Add AR State Rep. Jon Hubbard To The List Of republicans Who Want To Take Our Country Back, And Here’s How Far
The absentee creator is an interesting take — but I rather think he is one who — rather than moved away — gave his creation free will.
Free will imbedded into a prideful, self-centered heart isn’t very pretty. But every now and then we listen to him. He who has never left but let us out to play by ourselves. And we rise above ourselves.
That is when we are truly beautiful.
Jamie@SouthMainMuse posted I wonder if there’s a room for rent in the pineapple?
Is that you, standing there buck nekkid?
Amy posted Enjoying my Day Off
Not to nitpick, but I’m pretty sure God would be hanging out in San Diego before he’d be in Florida. The humidity down there is a killer.
Kevin posted The Limits of Videogame Interaction: The Fat Pipe-Thin Pipe Problem
Love that you hit my hometown. We used to go to Callaway every year and stay in a cabin. Maybe there were actually good years in my parent’s marriage, I don’t recall that there were, but all my memories of Callaway are special. Also loved your podcast with Faiqa this week. You’re on a roll.
Holly posted Feeding the World on World Food Day
I guess I missed this post… it’s beautiful. The photos. The words. Your bravery to stand naked in front of a window and post it on the internet.
Jana A (@jana0926) posted You say neesh, I say nitch. Now I want a banana split.