Color 2: untainted clarity

I remember listening about Jesus when I was a little girl. Whether you believe everything they wrote about him or not, you must admit he was quite the character. As far as role models go, he's hard to top. My religious inclinations these days have very little to do with my admiration for him. I love his story past the dogmas, ideologies and denominations. 

To illustrate my view imagine him in the modern era. I imagine he would be a world traveler who carries all of his belongings in his backpack. His hair in dreads with the ends burned from the sun. He would sleep in bus stations and hostels. He would probably have tons of followers on Twitter and hundreds of friends on Facebook. He would be Obama-like in his gift of speech and have the benevolence of Bono. His message of hope and grace would give hope to the oppressed and to those who suffer. He would probably hang out with gays, swingers, lawyers, accountants, politicians and beggars without a need to differentiate himself or identify with any of them. He would not be a private man. He would live his life in the open, unafraid of the tabloids or reality TV. The patriot act and such fear-influenced laws and rules would never sway him from sharing his radical opinions or beliefs. He would stand up for what's right and just, not what fits into a political agenda. His life would inspire many to look beyond consumerism and materialism. He would challenge us to construct a Utopian society. He would challenge the oppression of religion and he would be allergic to the status quo. 

I listened to his story. At twelve he challenged the church elders. He destroyed the store fronts of merchants who set up shop in front of his synagogue. Quite the character, certainly not the type of guy that blends in with the rest. As I heard these stories, I realized something. If it was ok for him to be different, it was ok for me too. He was my definition of cool. A character trait that really spoke to me was his ability to open his heart, mind and spirit to all who approached him. He lived fearless of rejection and pain. His end on this earth was quite tragic as we all know. But what a way to live, how exhilarating! 

The source of my desire to let it all out is not fully evident to me. I consider the lines of communication permanently open. I am an open book. Transparency without fear is quite liberating, I saw that in him. The world is so accustomed to fear and insecurity that it's hard for us to all be truly connected. I want to see the world and let the world see me clearly untainted by fear. It has been said that fear and love are opposites. If the message we were to learn from this interesting person was love, then there's no room for fear. Open your heart and mind to others, you will be surprised how the treasures far surpass the disappointments.