Really good. Take it from one whose vegetable soul is not often open to poetry. O.K. --- Mike Geary <atlas@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: > OUTSOURCING THE SELF > > It was a Thursday, > just like today, > when God came calling, > which surprised me > because I thought he always went golfing > on Thursdays > when Club rules were relaxed. > But there he was knocking on my door at 6 a.m. > I was afraid it was the police wanting the library > book > "Sources of the Self" back > and the five years of past due fines > which I was uninclined to pay, not having read it > yet. > But no, thank God, it was just God. > "I'm God," he said, "can I come in?" > I was so relieved. > He sat on the sofa, I the chair. > He was searching for words, > running his fingers through his hair. > The silence was awkward. > "Would you like something to drink?" > I asked. > "Do you have any Chivas?" he asked. > "Uh, no." I replied. > "Never mind, just bring me some water, I'll change > it," > he sighed. > So I brought him two buckets full. Best Chivas I've > ever had. > "I'm worried about how I know myself," he said at > last. > "How so?" I yawned. > "All existence depends on how I know myself," he > shouted out, > either in emphasis or philosophical ardor, > "Even my own. Even my own," he ended softly. > "Your own what?" I asked humoring him since the > Chivas was so good. > "My own existence. I yam what I yam," he said, then > chuckled. > "Popeye had it right. I yam what I yam. > And so are you," he said, "and all existence." > But shouldn't God and the whole universe > be based on something more profound than Popeye? > I ask you." > "You've come to the wrong place," I said, > "Philosophy's not my field." > "Oh? What's your field?" God asked. > "Air Conditioning," I said. > "That's cool," God said, "so tell me," > he continued, "how do you know yourself, > who you truly are, that is? > You're creating a world, too, you know. > One no less real than mine, > the world of yourself, > and it effects, affects, infects > many other worlds. > How do you know > how to go > about all that?" > I just do what I do because that's what I do," > I replied. > A long moment of silence. > "What time is it?" He suddenly wanted to know. > "6:09." I chimed. > "Good, I can still make tee off time > at St. Andrews. > Don't delay DeLay, as they say." > and poof! He was gone. > Man, talk about your missed opportunities. > > Mike Geary > Memphis > > > > __________________________________________________ Do You Yahoo!? Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com ------------------------------------------------------------------ To change your Lit-Ideas settings (subscribe/unsub, vacation on/off, digest on/off), visit www.andreas.com/faq-lit-ideas.html