The organ music was soaring...the stained glass windows were glowing...and the christening service was eloquent. Still, all I could really see here was the little blue blanket in which the infant had been so tenderly swaddled for this moment.
Was it irreverent to be thinking of Charlie Brown rather than God...?
By no means are the two mutually exclusive. You see, Charlie's little brother Linus sometimes speaks with the wisdom of God. Always, though, clutching his little blue blanket. A blanket which speaks volumes about the world into which this beautiful infant will be entering. A world that Chekhov described as "a tragedy filled with joys."
To ponder the tragedy we have Schopenhauer, Nietzsche and Camus among others. To anticipate the joys we have baby Stephen. Then, to protect the fragile joys, we each have our own little blue blanket. A metaphor for all the threads woven into the tapestry of our lives that we have designed to clothe us against adversity.
Stephen's adversities today are easily staved off with woolly blankets, soft diapers and warm milk. As he and we travel through life, adversity comes not in single sentries but in legions. Physical, mental, financial, societal. As Bette Davis famously reminded us: "Growing up and growing old ain't for sissies!"
Fortunately, Stephen, we, and Linus can cling to our respective little blue blankets as need demands. Perhaps it is that place called home where they can't turn you out...that room or church or temple where your tears and terrors can find respite...and especially that mind and heart we have nurtured so as to explain and manage our fears.
With luck, we will continue to explain and manage them. At least just enough so we like Linus can return for another day's strip....
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
Jack, some of your message reminds me of an earlier one having to do with not sweating the small stuff. I have read much of Richard Carlson's book ("Don't Sweat The Small Stuff ----" and see some signs above relating to stress. Carlson writes, "Most people would agree that one of the greatest sources of stress in our lives is our problems". He goes on to say, "--how much of a problem do we make our problems? Do we see them as emergencies, or as potential teachers?" Of course we have to manage them. Lucky Linus!
ReplyDeleteJerry ~ Right, stress. Back in Austin it was the stress of keeping up with the games and the gangs. Fenwick, the grades. Stress is always the name of the game. Good stress is OK, bad stress isn't; gotta know the difference. But when all is said and done, I think you're right. Linus has just what he needs! The rest of us keep trying...
ReplyDelete