JC is an internationally renowned superhero. He is a superhero by nature, but is heralded around the world for his inherent ability to become human should duty call. It is a dream coming true for Him as He has such a great love for people. He responds to distress calls around the globe for the purpose of bettering the planet and serving its people. Somehow, His unorthodox methods seem to teach the people the answers or solutions to their problems. He seems to magically appear in various forms to His people riding on Whitey, His trusty steed. In His travels, He is known by many names including J Daddy, Big Papa, J Cizzle, J Dog, Big J, to list but a few. When the magic horn blows, He miraculously jumps from the within the written pages of historical journals, scrolls, and books, and comes alive in our present dimension. Some say He lives in the spaces between the lines on each page. Some say He is the words. Some say He's the book. Some say He just is. Somehow, even though His stories are historical, it seems as if He is writing them even today, with us as the characters, like we are in some sort of a time warp. I don't know how He does that, but I love it. I love it because I have become one of His best friends. In a very weird, yet nonetheless real way, He is making one of my dreams come true also: I've always wanted to be a superhero, yet am grounded by this human body. The relationship makes me laugh at the irony. He's a superhero that turns into a human during a crisis and I'm a human that turns into a superhero during a crisis. Funny. And I know He likes that too. We've shared many laughs together over the years about it, but it's a cool relationship that works well for us. I'd like to think that I have helped Him accomplish some of His missions, and sometimes He lets me feel like I did, but I have this suspicion that He is the ultimate sandbagger, always holding more cards than appears. He has a knack for having more up His sleeve, if you know what I mean. Can't seem to pin Him down in that way. He's too deep. But I'm okay with that. After all, He's the real superhero. I'm just happy He calls me His friend and invites me to join Him in some of His adventures. Let me share the latest tale with you...
Whitey shakes his head and blows out his nostrils, hoping to clear his head of the awful noise coming through his ears. "R-e-e-eeally? Is this to-o-o-tally necessary?", he whinnied.
"Some culture will do you good, boy," JC retorted as he rolled a piece of long stem grass from one corner of his mouth to the other. "It's called country music for a reason. Gives you a little grit in your life. Now don't be gittin' no burr unduh ya saddle, now, ya hear?"
"Oh, bro-o-o-ther," Whitey sighed as he kicked into a gallop to speed their arrival.
I walked beside JC along the hard packed dirt path. My "brothers" were there too. You know, friends that become family? JC, decked out in coveralls, straw hat, red bandanna, and the whole farmer outfit stepped off Whitey, grabbed a sack of grain, and loudly commanded us to "Listen!". We were all taken aback at how stern of a statement that was. It really quieted us down. He certainly had our attention after that. Funny thing was, He didn't say anything for some time. We just walked along with Him and watched him carefully casting the grain seed among the varied landscape of the small plot of land. We stared in amazement as the story unfolded before our eyes. The wind had blown some of the seed onto the hard dirt path that everyone used to cross the countryside. His land went right up next to this path and He tried to use every bit of land possible since it was so small of a plot. The birds spotted the helpless seed quickly and didn't hesitate to pounce on their prey. At the same time, some seed started growing in some good looking soil, but suddenly withered in the scorching heat since the bed of limestone was just beneath the surface. Off to our left, some seed had sprouted next to a thorn bush. Like a weed, that bush grew fast, quickly overtaking the sprouts and rendering it fruitless. I could tell He was loving it. He hummed a country tune as He walked and caught Whitey's eye again, chuckling as His horse rolled his eyes and went back to grazing. The ground had been minimally prepared, mostly just scratched with a crude rake. At the same time, some seed took and grew into healthy plants, producing much fruit. It seemed like time had stopped because it was all happening simultaneously, but I sensed there was order to it. Still, JC had said nothing. We were still listening.
JC took off His straw hat and wiped His sweaty brow with His red bandanna. He shewed the birds away with a whisk of His hand and sat down on a stump to admire His work. We asked what it all meant. He smiled, as if it was the first time anyone had ever asked about His work. He went on and on about different people and different states of minds. He truly related to people and how they might even be all four different soils in a single day! Brilliant!
JC concluded, "What's it like to offer help to someone, but they don't want help? Ever have someone not listen to you? What if you gave your spouse a love letter and they refused to read it? Maybe invite someone to a party and they don't show? You know what it feels like when you are talking to someone, and suddenly they tune you out? How about giving your child a gift and they throw it away? Not much good can come from any of those situations. It is the same in relationship with God. If you really love Him, you'll listen to what He's saying, agree with it, receive it, and then respond to it, applying it to your life. Then much fruit will be given, for the benefit of others. You'd be amazed at what He can do with one human life that does this!"
Somehow, I got the impression that He was talking about Himself.
