Start L.'s Tattoo, Hair, finances, etc.

5/5/07 4:34pm

I posted this title yesterday. Since 10:15am this morning I've been sponging free wi-fi and coffee refils off of Panera bread while my Phila family does their retail business. Panera is a pretty upscale, sophisticated clientelle.

45 minutes ago the manager came over to my table. One might have expected a bit of irritation at a "sponger," "wierdo" in an orange sweatshirt with a TATTO ON HIS HEAD!

The manager is maybe 25. A big, handsome fella. Slight baby face. Strong people skills. Well suited to managing a pretty big, prestigeous business like this.

Well, he did come over because of the tattoo. HE WANTED TO TALK JESUS. And we did for about 20 minutes. No hold barred. He was pleased and excited by the tattoo. He knows scripture 100 times better than me. Obvously he is not nearly as radical as me, but he is a genuine seeker - not a dogmatist.

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If you and I were sitting together at this moment within feet of one another and I was bouncing, shaking, jerking, rising, falling... you'd be pretty concerned and freaked out! In fact, under conditions that we in this sick society consider "normal" I too would be freaked out!

Unless we were sitting together in a raft going down Class 5 Rapids. You would not be freaked out because of course you could see that I was being acted upon by forces way beyond my control (unless I chose to steer over to the bank and got on dry land).

Well, not Class 5 Rapids have I thrown myself on, but rather the ultimate force of Jesus / God / Love / Life. RESULTS INCLUDE:

• My hair is extremely long.
• My clothes are border getto / sloppy.
• Homeless, pennyless living on the street.
• The tattoo!??!? Oh my.

There has not been one nano second since I took these on that they have felt other than totally normal and appropriate. I find this amazing. There have been seconds in my own imagination when I have "seen" that to others they could be shocking, horrifying, absurd, wierd, freaky....

You who know me know that I am a pretty observant, sensative guy. You who do not know me can somewhat assume this when you consider that my livelyhood (pretty big bucks) has depended on such traits - executive management, sales, retail.... Well, these characteristics have only improved and using them I'll report that since the tattoo, clothes, hair... what encounters I've had these have not yet been any sort of negative! Yes, it is possible that they have prevented encounters that otherwise would have happened; AND DOUBLESS THIS WILL BE THE CASE AS MONTHS AND YEARS GO ON! But those are by definition encounters I don't have time for now, and for the role I need to play on earth, I never will have time for (See post: STARTING A MOVEMENT? EXCLUDE THE MASSES!!!!!!!!).

• And, would there have been a sectional front page big spread, highly favorable article in the Washington Post (A Hunger For Justice - washingtonpost.com) if I had NOT had these new, abnormal attributes? WITH 2 HUGE PICTURES? WITH FEATURING ON THEIR WEB PAGE?
• And would the Panera manager have come over for an important, Sacred encounter?
• Would a handful of the finest young souls imaginable, real Truth seekers, have at significant effort made and maintained contact with me?
• Would a woman in Camden on the bus have come and sat next to me having seen the tattoo to ask about it, smile, and deeply enjoy the encounter?
• Would several of the most heroic activists in the world be deeply in support of my efforts (Ellen, Thomas, Dianne, Anne).
• Etc.
• Etc....

It proves nothing, but I find it more than an interesting comparison:

MatthewChapter 11 6 Jesus began to speak to the crowds about John, "What did you go out to the desert to see? A reed swayed by the wind? 8 Then what did you go out to see? Someone dressed in fine clothing? Those who wear fine clothing are in royal palaces. 9 Then why did you go out? To see a prophet? 7 Yes, I tell you, and more than a prophet. 10 This is the one about whom it is written: 'Behold, I am sending my messenger ahead of you; he will prepare your way before you.' 11 Amen, I say to you, among those born of women there has been none greater than John the Baptist....

• Marines are a specialized role. They do not look "normal" except in the context of being a Marine.
• Bouncers do not look normal, except in the context of their jobs.
• M.D.'s are usually in scrubs and nurses in uniforms.

Start Loving is a would be Saviour.

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That Panera manager just came back and we talked Jesus for another 20 minutes. :-)