Remove Item D from the plastic wrap.
“Item D? Let’s see. Oh, here it is. The strand of beads. OK. And?”
HANG ITEM D AS SHOWN IN FIGURE 2.
“Like this?”
“Uh… I guess.”
“Let me see the picture.”
“Figure 2.”
“Oh, I see. Like this. Here. OK, step three?”
PLACE PALMS TOGETHER WITH FINGERS EXTENDED BEFORE YOUR HEART.
“Palms… what?”
“A little higher.”
“Here?”
“Perfect.”
“Now what?”
STEP FOUR: CLOSE YOUR EYES.
“Okay.”
IMAGINE THE LORD FATHER.
“Huh?”
“Here.” Look. Figure five.”
“Let me see. Oh. Of course.”
“ Are you doing it?”
“Yeah. Next?”
IMAGINE THE LORD FATHER BEING TORTURED BECAUSE OF YOU.
“Huh?”
“That’s what it says.”
“Is there a picture?”
“Yeah. Figure six.”
“Let me see…”
My favorite of July's pieces! I recently saw "Eat Pray Love" with friends. I guiltily admit that I did enjoy it on some levels: the depiction of Italy resonated with my own experiences; I was impressed with the positive portrayal of men in a "chick flick;' and I’m in complete agreement that when a person opens themselves to the pain, loss and unknowns of a journey (internally or externally), their lives will be enriched. That said, the "Pray" part of the film seemed slightly contrived and oversimplified (what can one expect in a film for the masses). The fact that many people will go to this film and actually have an "epiphany" is a sorry testament to the state of true spirituality in our society...even sorrier that their epiphany will most likeky be the character’s and not their own. I don’t begrudge those people their “ah-ha” moments and what follows (even “Eat Pray Love” cults), but bemoan our general lack of spiritual adventure as a society. Your piece is clever and short enough to be provocative; it’s perfect just as it is. It sums up for me, in that great Guildenstern and Rosencrantz style, what I’ve always felt: organized religion is a group of people following one person’s epiphany rather than having their own. They follow another’s dogma and deny the individualized “religion” and God that live within them.
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