November 21 - and counting . . .

I'll be honest about something from the start.  I maybe won't look back on this year with any particular affection, and really have no desire to hang onto it - or see it miraculously drag on.  Financially and spiritually, it's been a struggle.  The whole year has been somewhat a strain to be sure.  But that's my (yawn) story . . .

On the plus, I am going to finish my first novel, so for that reason, I suppose it's not all been bad.  Don't misunderstand me here, there have not been any great tragedies in my life to contend with, and I am very grateful for that much.  It's merely that a line of linear existence I enjoyed/endured, was broken after many years.  Such a jump from an expected timeline can be a jarring -  sometimes depressing experience - I suppose I have found it both.

If you recall, back in February, I posted a blog about Planet X, sometimes referred to as Nibiru, and the so called threat this heavenly 'body' might pose to Earth if the 2012 doomsday enthusiasts were to be believed.  Well folks, it's only weeks to the fateful day now; the day some people believe the world will end.  I have read a few articles and a couple of books on this subject in recent days.  Some of these 'forecasts' were written as much as two or more years ago, with the perspective of 2012 being a fair distance away from the author's pen.  All I can say right now is - if that planet is there, and it's supposed to be ten times the size of Earth, I think we might have seen the thing by now - and surely we would feel it.  Remember the old George Pal classic, 'When Worlds Collide' made way back in the 50's?  The planet Zyra, on collision course with Earth became visible weeks before the fateful day, but her effects, along with her moon Bellus, are felt way before that, with earthquakes and tsunamis devastating the planet as her gravity starts to drag our fair world into a death dance.

This isn't far from what all the doomsayers say we should expect, among other calamities.  Well mateys, I hope they all have a Merry Christmas too.

This blog was primarily designed to talk about writing and movies, and that I will certainly do in future posts.  These next weekly posts through Advent up to Christmas Day, by your indulgence, will major upon some spiritual aspects - opinions and information rather than preaching, because I suppose people have had a sour bellyful of that already.  I just find it hard to accept as I move through every new day, the rising claim that we are a less spiritual people - and I think it's more than merely the frightened soul unable to embrace a proven reality that states we are nothing more than animals.  I have no concrete evidence on my own table to suggest otherwise.  We might well be intelligent apes for all I know!  I personally however, would like to think we are not.

For a start, no orthodox church is going to convince many people of anything when they can't get their own house in order.  Just recently, the Church of England has been thrown into turmoil by the refusal to accept women bishops.  Not a story I have followed with any great interest, but I get more than the impression the decision was a shock to the clerical system, if the television scenes of weeping female clergy were anything to go by.  A crisis?  Only if you give a hoot about the Church of England, I suppose.  And (forgive me) - from where I am, it seems most people don't give a hoot.  And why would they?  We live in a culture that claims God is dead - and it seems for the most part there's not a lot of shouting from Heaven to suggest otherwise.  If we are expecting God to jump in and say 'here I am' (no pun intended) I think we may be disappointed.  It seems he just doesn't work that way.

Not for now anyway.

As far as the 2012 thing is concerned, no one appears that phased by it.  We are all pre-occupied with the onslaught of Christmas 'cheer' . . . a gradually increasing dash to get the gifts we need, to make sure 'the house is in order' so to speak.  And I suppose I'm no exception to that rule.  But every now and then, I wonder what would happen if the focus suddenly shifted - if there came a news flash that finally stated we were actually on the cusp of doomsday?  And by the way, I'm not nuts on this.  I think the scare-mongerers are definitely out in force yet again.  But if the Bible has any authority at all, it usually begins with some good sense, stating 'no man knows the day or the hour when the end will come'.  That to me, is a good plan.  We just couldn't be trusted with such dire information.

Not unless you were Noah, I suppose.

Later this week:  Depths of Deception . . .