Saturday 11:35 AM is quite late for me to be writing here at Starbucks.  But who cares?  I will not care as long as I come up with some good words.

I awakened at 6AM in order to be present on the sidelines to observe and cheer a grandson play his final soccer game of the season.  He scored two goals, certainly a triumph for him and a delight for the family members present.

Still I felt cold as the morning sun had not yet banished the autumn chill from the air.  I sat compressed in the canvass folding chair in order to conserve body heat, wishing that I’d worn a jacket instead of this sweatshirt.  In the second half of the game was I in a fugue state, the playing field weirdly tilted, and compressed?  Due to insufficient sleep and the chill breeze, — the mind distorts the external world.

After the soccer game we visited the farmers market along side the river in Batavia.  Saturday morning at the farmer’s market is a weekly ritual for us.  As usual, we observed two Jehovah’s Witnesses stationed off of the walkway at the Peace Bridge which spans the river.  Two smartly dressed females looking to be in their middle years seated on the wall, seemed to be waiting to see if any passersby would approach, curious to “know more.”  I’d lay odds that no one ever approaches.  I am sure that in their judgment, — the hundreds of disinterested passersby are “hell-bound.”  How delightful and ironic I thought, to imagine direction arrows at both ends of the bridge over the river, used by such as myself,..  [This way to hell]

This world, which each of us sees and touches and tastes… (a cup of Starbuck’s coffee) is conceivable as heaven or conceivable as a hell.  Then, — human behavior proceeds to bring either to pass, to “real-ize” heaven or hell.

Religion is the most egregious case in point.  Religious dogma separates humanity into opposing camps, those favored for membership in a community of privilege, – and all the rest.  You know, the rest of us who are hell-bound.

I do mean to pick on religion.  “Religion” in my experience, takes the form of any ideology: capitalism or  nationalism or political fealty to a party leader, etc.

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Would life be “worth living” without a song?  This one will console us, lend us courage for the fight.

Knockin on Heaven’s Door performed by Mark Knopfler

Knockin’ On Heaven’s Door

Lord, take this badge off of me
I can’t use it anymore
It’s gettin’ too dark, too dark to see
Felt like knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
I feel like knockin’ on heaven’s door

Lord these guns have caused too much pain
This town will never be the same
So for the bairns of Dunblane
We ask please never again

The Lord is my shepherd
I shall not want
He makes me down to lie
In pastures green
He leadeth me
The quiet waters by
Lord put all these guns in the ground
We just can’t shoot them anymore
It’s time that we spread some love around

Before we’re knockin’ on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Lord put all these guns in the ground
We just can’t shoot them anymore
It’s time that we spread some love around

Before we’re knockin’ on heavens door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
I feel I’m knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
Knock, knock, knockin’ on heaven’s door
I’ve been there too many times before

Composed by Bob Dylan