Magical Thinking

god-1
Roselle, NJ April 2020
god-2
Garwood, NJ April 2020

Even though the hardest hit town in New Jersey so far has been Lakewood in Ocean County, a very religious community, the locals here in Union County seem to be calling on God to save them (because we know Trump won’t).

Personally I think it’s arrogance to assume that God will save us all from the plague. How do we know the plague hasn’t been sent by God to punish us all for our sins?

In any event, I suppose it’s never a bad time to post the 91st Psalm.

My Refuge and My Fortress

1 He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High
will abide in the shadow of the Almighty.
I will say to the Lord, “My refuge and my fortress,
my God, in whom I trust.”

For he will deliver you from the snare of the fowler
and from the deadly pestilence.
He will cover you with his pinions,
and under his wings you will find refuge;
his faithfulness is a shield and buckler.
You will not fear the terror of the night,
nor the arrow that flies by day,
nor the pestilence that stalks in darkness,
nor the destruction that wastes at noonday.

A thousand may fall at your side,
ten thousand at your right hand,
but it will not come near you.
You will only look with your eyes
and see the recompense of the wicked.

Because you have made the Lord your dwelling place—
the Most High, who is my refuge
10 no evil shall be allowed to befall you,
no plague come near your tent.

11 For he will command his angels concerning you
to guard you in all your ways.
12 On their hands they will bear you up,
lest you strike your foot against a stone.
13 You will tread on the lion and the adder;
the young lion and the serpent you will trample underfoot.

14 “Because he holds fast to me in love, I will deliver him;
I will protect him, because he knows my name.
15 When he calls to me, I will answer him;
I will be with him in trouble;
I will rescue him and honor him.
16 With long life I will satisfy him
and show him my salvation.”

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm+91&version=ESV

2 thoughts on “Magical Thinking”

  1. Life is terminal, no matter how you slice it. Even the monotheistic God does not save people from death, and I doubt any except vampires would want to live forever.

    It’s not the plague itself, but fear of the plague that has people cowed.

    1. Well Pasolini made a movie where he did and Pasolini was a gay communist.

      The most convincing scene is Jesus healing a man from the plague.

Leave a Reply