We spoke by phone to a far-away friend about how things were going, on "in California" where there is a lot of sand. This is the conversation that followed:
Friend: "Well, every time I go to 'the beach' here 'in California' things are different. This time I am very very bored. Last time I was here I was 'surfing' all the time. Now I'm not."
Us: "Why aren't you 'surfing'? Aren't there any 'waves'?"
Friend: "Oh yes. There are a lot of 'waves'. There are some very big 'waves' and they keep getting bigger every day. But, I can't 'surf' any of the 'waves.'"
Us: "Why can't you go 'surfing'?"
Friend: "'Well, the 'guy who runs the beach' says we can't 'surf'. He says there aren't any 'waves'. In fact, some people said, 'Yes there are waves,' and leaked it to the press that there were 'waves' and they were very seriously told not to do that any more. You can get in trouble for saying there are 'waves.'"
Us: "So, in the meanwhile, the 'waves' are just getting bigger?"
Friend: "Yep. They keep getting bigger, and they are killing people, adults and little children. But, the 'guy who runs the beach' says there aren't any 'waves' and we're not allowed to 'surf'. So, I'm just sitting here 'waxing my surfboard'. Actually, my 'surfboard is waxed'. Now I'm building a house. For real. I really am building a house."
Us: "You're building a house? Why are you building a house?"
Friend: "For the other 'surfers.'"
Us: "But, why? If you're not 'surfing' why bring in other 'surfers'?"
Friend: "See, we have to have 'surfers' here, because this is a 'beach' and a 'beach' has to have 'surfers'."
Us: "But, will they be allowed to 'surf'?"
Friend: "No. Do you know why I am actually building this house? Because I have to be able to report what I'm doing, and I have to be doing something, so I am building a house that isn't necessary."
Us: "And in the meanwhile you are on a 'beach' with huge 'waves' getting bigger all the time, and nobody is allowed to 'surf' them, and so destruction is on the way. That's 'anti-Californian.'"
Friend: "It's anti-American is what it is."
Us: "Wow. Can we write about this?"
Friend (Laughing) "Only if you use the waves analogy. And say it's ... a beach on the ocean in Arizona or something."
Just a little inside note from a friend far away.... on a beach... in Arizona.
Although, I hear that surfing is much better in Afghanistan.
We need to get on our knees for America. And start with our own repentance.