Some thoughtful words from Robert Sedlack’s first novel…
Some thoughtful words from Robert Sedlack’s first novel “The African Safari Papers”. (Brought to my attention by Blair on www.toolband.com)
“I have never said a dirty word about Jesus. Ever. But I can’t stand the people who follow him. I can’t stand people who follow anything but their favorite team. We are a society of cowards. How many Christians would go into the desert and survive for forty days and forty nights — with only water from the dew of leaves in the morning to drink, with only bugs and the occasional root of some bitter plant to eat, with no shelter from the scorching sun of the day or the chilling cold of the night, with no toilet paper? How many would do this? Maybe nine. Nine of the millions who call themselves Christians.
It takes hard work to become a captain of eternity. Jesus did really well on his test. On his own! With no cheating. But now there are millions of people looking over his shoulder, stealing answers. Why? Because they don’t want to find them on their own. It’s not like stealing a peek during a math test either — answers that work for one person don’t work for anyone else. You can’t steal life answers and pretend they’re your own. It’s like wearing someone else’s underwear.
The captains of eternity knew the secret. You have to find your own way. No matter how scary it gets, or lonely, or baffling or insane, you have to cut your own path. There is no shortcut to salvation. As soon as you butt in line with a bunch of other lazy and ignorant people and start following someone, it’s over.
These lines of followers stretch as far as the eye can see and everyone in line is pretty goddamn cocky about it. The Jews tell us they’re chosen, Buddhists are enlightened, Christians are saved, Hindus are reincarnated and Muslims devoted. And the rest of us? Walking our solitary walk? We don’t have a fucking chance. Do we? Balderdash. There are as many roads to paradise as there are people on the planet. Hallelujah. We’re all captains of eternity, baby. Fuck the long lines. Keep walking. Stay strong.
