The Human Circus

Have you ever just gone into a tavern, bar, or restaurant for the express purpose of watching the people? If you pay close enough attention you will be treated to a great parade of the human condition. This is what I find myself doing when I go out to relax. I tend to frequent establishments that cater to a healthy cross section of humanity; those that have and have not, single and married, parents and those wishing to become so, gay, straight, and the undecided. Places where I'm sure to run into business owners, laborers, as well as old high school quarterbacks and cheerleaders that never seemed to make it passed the fame of their youth.

I love to watch the drama, and lack thereof, while trying to figure out who is doing who, which husband is doing whose wife's boyfriend, and whether the tequila will finally override common sense to make the girl on the bar do a pole dance while wondering if the older gentlemen will succumb to the advances of the sixteen year old girl trying to act nineteen.  I look for who might be getting married and who, so obviously, isn't; who is playing some transparent game and who is just there for dinner, a beer, or both.

I watch patiently, hoping to be surprised by the cover being different, and so much less interesting than the book.  The punk cum goth cum alternative lifestyle, tattooed body with multiple piercings one expects to hear the never-ending stream of vulgarities from; the loser diatribe of rebellious youth spewed forth at the older generation like we haven't been through it all ourselves.  Instead, out of their black lipped pie hole, I find myself listening to a lucid explanation of warped space time, God, spirituality, and their personal reason for being.  As I pay my tab to leave I can't help but look over this diverse crowd and wonder, which one is Jesus come again.

Have we become so accustomed to seeing this circus of humanity, the constant onslaught of sideshows, that we numb ourselves to everyone around us?  Will we know the second coming of Christ when it happens, or will He become lost in the background clutter of human drama?  Will you hear Him when He speaks, and will you listen to what He says?  Why would you, and what would you think, not realizing it is Him?  What does your answer say about you, your faith, and society?

When the crazy guy in the robe gets arrested for vagrancy, illegal gathering, and/or creating a public nuisance, how many times will you deny him?  Three?

We can all hope there is great fanfare upon His return.  We want there to be little doubt of who He is.  But, hasn't this always been about faith, always doing what's right, and being prepared for what comes next?  If so, why would we care that He returns other than to invite Him over for dinner and casual conversation?  He'd probably love to go to the local watering hole and watch the colorful parade of humanity.

He's probably already there, tending bar, listening to confessions of the patrons and taking copious notes.

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Editor's Note 

(re: disclaimer cum "get out of jail free" card) 

Before you go getting your panties in a bunch, it is essential to understand that this is just an opinion site and, as such, can be subjected to scrutiny by anyone with a differing opinion. It doesn't make either opinion any more right or wrong than the other. An opinion, presented in this context, is a way of inciting others to think and, hopefully, to form opinions of their own, if they haven't already done so.

It is my fervent hope that we keep open and active minds when reading opinions and then engaging in peaceful, constructive, discussion and debate in an arena of mutual respect concerning the opinions put forth. After over twenty years as a military intelligence analyst, planner, and briefer, I have come to believe engaging each other in this manner and in this arena is the way we will learn tolerance and respect for differing beliefs, cultures, and viewpoints.

We all fall from grace, some more often than others; it is part of being human. God's test for us is what we do afterward, and what we learn from the experience.

Frank Anthony Villari (aka, Pastor Tony)

Pastor Tony is founder of the Congregation for Religious Tolerance and author/editor of the Congregation's official blog site, "The Path."