The Gospel according to Jon Stewart

Jon Stewart, a non-practicing Jew, is possibly a most unlikely source for a sermon, yet a clip posted by my daughter Laura from his first show after 9/11 was one of the most powerful, if unwitting depictions of the gospel I have ever heard. I wish I knew how to attach stuff to this post, because Stewart himself is far more powerful than any depiction of mine can ever be. But here goes:

First, Stewart, clearly still raw with emotion from an event that took place in his home town, within view of his apartment, asks his audience, "Are you all right? We pray that you are." Just as 9/11 catapulted people into churches and synagogues and mosques throughout the country, Stewart is catapulted into prayer by the depth of his grief, into an open acknowledgment of our powerlessness and vulnerability and hope and desire that Something, Someone, is watching and cares and maybe, maybe even can help. "We pray that you are" is the "Our Father who art in heaven", the acknowledgment of . . .something, unsure what, but something we need.

Stewart breaks down as he goes on. "It's a privilege to be on this show, to have this freedom, this openness." Gratitude, another prayer.

But here's where it starts getting really good, really Christian. "I grieve, but I do not despair, because the way America came together, the bravery, the love, the rebuilding with buckets. . . they've already lost! They've lost . . . they can't win, because this is . . . Light." Light. The light of the world.

"Behold" said Jesus in the book of John, "behold, the world will give you trouble." Planes crashing into buildings. Rumors of wars, Jesus says elsewhere, and actual wars too. But that's not the end of the story. "But--be of good cheer! For I have overcome the world."

They have already lost. I have overcome the world. It's light. You are the light of the world. I grieve, but I do not despair. Blessed are those that mourn, for they shall be comforted.

Tragedy cracks our hearts right open, and talk show hosts and satirists are no exception apparently. And in that open, wise heart, Stewart found the truth of Christ. They are chaos. Any fool can destroy something. Chaos can't last. They have already lost. It's light.

Be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.

Jesus, great Jewish teacher, meet Jon Stewart--great Jewish teacher. Amen.

Belief

So, I'm a Believer. As I have noted in previous posts, I have had too many experiences to be a Doubter. But . . . of course all the scalp-tingling, the voices, everything could just be an internal neurological phenomenon. Surely it could be scientifically explained away.

But here's the thing--even if it's not True, even if I made it all up, this is the way I prefer to live. I've tried Belief, and I've tried Skepticism and Doubt and Agnoticism and Atheism, and Belief is way more joyful. It makes me way happier. It is such a rich and beautiful way to live. To feel that every thought, every word and act have meaning, have a higher purpose, fit in somehow with a grand scheme that is beyond your understanding, thrills me, inspires me, and reassures me all at once.

If I'm wrong--so what? I am a better, kinder person when I remember that I believe. I am more stable, more calm, more generous when I pray.

Yoga and the Devil

Yoga is a miracle. When I do a yoga routine, I suddenly feel completely different than I did before I do yoga. But like Pablo Casals, who had to "find the damn E over again every morning" on his cello, I have to do yoga and meditate and pray every day to keep the damn crazies away. This is why I have come to believe in the Devil, in a force of darkness. Why else would all those awful energies--self-pity, guilt, jealousy, anger, paranoia--keep returning when I just yesterday banished them entirely?? Something's going on here. Something's behind this. A pastor I know who is quite knowledgeable about science quoted a mathematician--"Someone's been fiddling with the numbers." In a good way, he meant it. There is order to the Universe, he meant. But, on the same note, I would have to say, Someone is trying to mess up the work of the One whose got the great good numbers thing going, and damn-- it's one hell of a powerful Force.

But the good news: Yoga works. Plopping myself down in front of my altar and praying works. I feel tingling in my scalp and I feel like singing, no matter what state I plopped down in, and there's been some pretty bad states. It also works, if I'm being assaulted by Crazies in situations where I can't suddenly jump into a Triangle, to chant to myself "I love Jesus" over and over. I don't care if this sounds weird. It works, and I become a somewhat better person. All due respects to my grandmother, but if it works, I don't care if it's voodoo.

But--I know it's not voodoo. I have too many experiences at this point to doubt any more.