Transfigured

from Uncle Albert's notebook (cahier)

As readers of Ted's blog have seen, he receives letters from the dead, especially from his sister Moira but also from an old girlfriend, Trudy Monae. And from his mother, I believe, though he's never published one of those. And, Roz tells me when I ask her (just a few minutes ago), from a "heavenly" bureaucrat named Stephen, who advises and chastises; he would guide Ted in his "earthly walk," as if Ted were guidable.
        Moreover, Roz volunteers, he responds. He has notebooks full of these letters. Colorful notebooks because his correspondents write him in different colors of ink, one in blue, one in red, one in green, one in teal that she's seen. He not only receives, moreover; he responds, in black.
        I have encouraged him to talk to Dr. Feight about this. It's not as if any of these died yesterday, but twenty years ago and more. He says that he does talk to Dr. Feight, and Dr. Feight says it's okay, that he (Ted) can distinguish between fantasy and reality.
        I'm not so sure. Dr. Feight is a religious man. Would he say the same about John of Patmos, that he could distinguish between fantasy and reality? Would he be right about that?

Patmos John by Jacques Callot

The epistle lesson this morning, Transfiguration and Super Bowl Sunday, was from II Corinthians 4, in which Paul suggests that the gospel has somehow, or at least in some instances, become "veiled." "The god of this world has blinded the minds of unbelievers, to keep them from its light." So, who is in charge here? God "Almighty" proposes, the god of this world disposes? And the result is that some are fornifreculated?
        Our rector, the former Miss Virginia, doesn't enter that fray. She does preach a creditable sermon on the gospel, the transfiguration story, pointing out that Peter, John, and James want to remain "on the mountaintop." Too bad they have to come down, she tuts. But the light will dim. Then, God will speak (not out of the light but the darkness). It's his beloved, not the mountaintop, they should listen to. He (the beloved) will say, "We can't stay here!" It's a rebuke, she suggests to the one in four of us that have mountaintop experiences and want to stay on high to lord it over the rest. To which,
        "Amen," I croaked out. I didn't mean it to be out loud.
                                                                                                         02/11/24