Cosmic Bus
The Ends Do Not Justify the Means
I am an introvert. I don’t actively seek community or find energy from other people. Except I recently discovered that’s exactly what I’m seeking.
I have built my faith, my spirituality inside my head. I let it come out in my writing and in my music.
When I’m working on a song, I constantly sing it. The melody forms, then reforms as the different parts emerge. “Slow Grace” is in the late stages. Mike Fonte just delivered the guitars... and now it’s time to work.
Six Year Morning Ritual
Exercise, coffee, email. Personal email first with the final one being the daily gospel reflection. The Word from two thousand years ago still resonates clearly today and I’m no longer surprised that many times it’s exactly spot on with what’s happening, what I’m thinking or how I’m feeling.
My first introduction to Anthony de Mello came in September 2024 with Luke’s portrayal of the disciples arguing about which of them was the greatest.
Anthony de Mello’s image is apt here: most of us are like people on a bus, passing through the most beautiful country imaginable, but we have the shades drawn and are arguing about who has first place on the bus!
As the United States prepared to go to the polls in November 2024, I had an idea for a song about a Cosmic Bus. Over the next six months, the cosmic bus became “Bus Rides, Shades and Windows” - Complete with cosmic sounding guitars from Mike Fonte and drums from Bobby Kunkel that filled in all the right spots.
Blasphemy for Breakfast
For the third verse of Bus Rides, I took inspiration from how the United States cast its vote in November.
They made up rules to rule the losers
Games to guide you through
We cast our vote for leaders
As they’re breaking all the rules
Win because that’s what matters
Justify means with the ends
They can lie and steal, they can rape and kill
It doesn’t matter what they do
It doesn’t matter what they do
The candidate that in 2016 stated, “I could stand in the middle of 5th Avenue and shoot somebody and I wouldn’t lose voters,” was back as our president.
My morning gospel reflection ritual helped me maintain my faith and hope. Until it didn’t.
The Pope vocally and publicly condemns Trump’s war. The response? Public ridicule of the Pope and contempt from the United States President.
Criticizing the Pope? A Reuters headline pulled me in. I was simultaneously stunned and disgusted. I discovered that my surrogate pastor was calling for an apology from the president and in the same breath praising the current administration.
So apparently the ends do justify the means?
And then… Blasphemy.
Community Lessons
Suffice it to say, I have unsubscribed and will be tuning in directly to the Vatican News going forward.
I also learned something as I reflected on these events. I’ve been withdrawing into my own world and cosmology – especially over the past 2 years. In the process, I’ve substituted the daily gospel reflections for actual spiritual community interaction.
What does that mean? I don’t know, but I suspect it involves getting more engaged with people, and less engaged with the echo chamber in my head.
Meanwhile, the “Slow Grace” guitars from Mike Fonte won’t turn themselves into a song. And I can’t help but sing the opening lyrics from the chorus…
“Hey there… Did you miss me here?”