In a little while the chips were glowing and throwing off heat enough to boil coffee and fry bacon… He leaned back and savored a second cup of coffee. ‘This is the life we was born for.’”
–Elmer Kelton (Six-Bits A Day)
“From this valley they say…” come in this kitchen, Pard, I was just hummin’ up a mournful tune ’bout a gal leavin’ the country. Those ol’ cowpokes sure had a lonely life out there herdin’ them bovines. ‘Course, loneliness comes in all sorts of ways. Why I’ve known folk to be lonely in New York City with all them people a movin’ ’bout. “Course yuh can’t talk to none of them, they might think yuh were gonna rob them or at the least harass them. Hmpf, some of them need some harassin’ that’s for plumb sure.
Here yuh go, Pard. I know that’s why yuh came by for this cup of pure deeelight. Watch it for it’s mighty hot, but blow on it a bit and when yuh go to swaller it yur ol’ gizzard will be plumb tickled. It’ll help yuh see yur way through all the foolishness that’s a-goin’ on ’round us. Why, listen to this that happened just a week ago. A police chaplain ended his prayer “in Jesus’ name.” Quite fittin’ for a preacher don’t yuh think?
Well, the powers that be, wrote the chaplain a letter rebukin’ him, an’ tellin’ him to never do that again. Here we have a preacher of the gospel of Jesus Christ bein’ warned not to use the name of Jesus in his prayers. Now is that absurd or not? Take a deep lingerin’ sip for what comes next we’ll get yuh riles if’n yur not prepared. This here chaplain was informed that utterin’ the name of Jesus was, an’ I’m goin’ quote direct, so hold on. It would be “considered harassment, created a hostile work environment, and lifted one religion above another.” Now how ’bout them apples? They were told they could pray using any other name for God, but the “specific use of ‘Jesus’ would not be permitted going forward.”
If’n that don’t cause the gall to rise up in yur stomach! In the name of Allah would be alright, or in the name of Buddha, or in the name of Hoo-Doo, but oh no, not in the name above all names–Jesus! Took place in, yuh guessed it, California. But it could happen most anywheres. Folks ain’t fearin’ the Lord no more. An’ I’m talkin’ ’bout a healthy fear, not no shakin’ fear, but that’s probably what’s needs to happen. The Lord just grabbin’ them by the scruff of the neck and givin’ them a good shake tellin’ them to now listen here…
Haven’t hear nothin’ else ’bout the matter, but it sure is something to be sure. Pard, I think that ol’ city manager has done fell on his noggin’ too many times. There ain’t a lick of sense left. Let’s finish this pot, for there’s plenty to be done the rest of the day. Glad yuh stopped by…an’ I know I don’t have to be a-tellin’ yuh–check yur cinch or yuh might end up with nothin’ left in yur noggin’ like that feller.
Vaya con Dios.