Beyond Cuckoo

The Devil Made Me Do It

Hunting season is in full swing. Armed and dangerous people are on the loose in restaurants, shopping malls, and college campuses. I took a two hour class at work to teach me what to do when (not if) an armed and crazy person leaps the interview room counter and sprays bullets throughout the office. What the fuck is going on? Is this Beyond Cuckoo or what?

Then I see the Pope on TV making one more attempt to bring the world closer to peace. I haven’t been a Catholic for some time; yet I recognize truth in religion when I see it. I think Pope Francis is on to something. What if there really is a Satan, a devil, a dark side, an evil force, a fallen angel etc. that periodically invades our minds, souls and collective reasoning to create havoc in the world?

One of my favorite comedic movies is Ghostbusters—you can’t help but love these guys who say, “I ain’t afraid of no ghosts.” And mean it. They vaporize them and take back New York City—no small feat. Yet, I’m afraid. I came of age in New York City, and those years are tame compared to how I feel today. Ghosts, goblins and devils seem to have the upper hand. Do you agree? If you do, what do you do about it? How are we to get through this darkness? How do we stay alive?

Here’s what I suggest::

   Hang with folks that don’t scare you..

  Adopt folks that need help. This includes all species of animals, plants, and people. Some of us can only take care of a cactus and others make orchids bloom. A dog may be too much, but a goldfish might work. Pick a level you can handle, but use it to get out of yourself. This only happens when we put someone or something else first.

   Protect yourself. Be aware of the surroundings. Don’t take it to the point of paranoia, but know that all is not right with the world.

   Give others a chance. Everyone can’t be friends, but we can treat each other with respectful honesty. Turn aggressive arguments into healthy debates. Play by the rules—not everything is open game.

    Don’t kill yourself or anyone else.

http://www.latimes.com/world/europe/la-fg-pope-francis-israel-palestinian-peace-20140608-story.html