The Night of Isolationists!

I’m not sure how you are, but it’s pretty easy for me to become an isolationist. There. Said it. It’s true. Removing myself from the crowd of people that surrounds me on many fronts is an easy task. Simply close the door. Turn off the front lights. And pretend I’m not there.

In fact, I’ve done this for years on October 31st!

Well. I do live in an isolated area where neighbors are not close and we don’t have sidewalks, or streetlights…so it’s easy to just simply pretend we’re not at home. Although, not as isolated as the picture for this blog. (Which, by the way, except for the absence of trees it looks heavenly!)

As a kid we enjoyed this special day, and the bounty we acquired, but we learned that if a house was “dark” then it was a waste of time to walk to the front door, knock, “Trick or Treat”…

When my kids were young, and living in Alaska (even Texas), the safest place to celebrate was (Gasp!) the mall. For the most part you were assured of safe treats, because we always feared the doctored up pieces of goodness. In Alaska you dealt with snowy streets, cold weather, early sunset, and many kids wore their snow clothes UNDER their costume. Lot of bulky looking kids! In Texas? Well, let’s just say there was safety in numbers and at least it was well-lit and dry.

Growing up in Seabrook (Texas) we were neighbors to Timber Cove where many astronauts and NASA workers lived. Some of their homes were scary places to go to! But the bounty was huge! At least to my eyes.

October 31

Today, this celebration is weirdly full of elaborate Hollywood style costumes not meant to last past the evening, and parents following their kids everywhere. Millions, perhaps billions, are focused on this one day where everyone gets to pretend they are something else.

Of course, there are many days like this throughout the year. Go ahead. Name them. It will not bother me if you think about it a few moments!

Still. It makes me wonder about the crime statistics on this single day. With so many watching eyes I cannot help but assume kids are relatively safe. Now, the adult parties that “simply must happen” might be another story. Why do adults like to dress up and pretend? No. Idea.

Here’s My Thought Today

I’m tired of the pretend world. It seems on many levels the pretend world is reality to some. It’s almost “Matrix…ed”, if you catch my drift. To some we live in a pretend world and are simply the figment of imagination, so, live as you want. Nothing Matters.

Through the years we watch people live their pretend world with costumes, makeup, fancy smansy lives that put on them on a different playing field than all the unimportant people. Elitist. Wealthy. Isolationists.

My bride had hand surgery when she was a younger woman (before I met her), and there was a lady in the next bed who surprised everyone the next morning “without her makeup” – she looked nothing like the person from the night before?

My Example

Then, I think of Jesus going about his business, pressed on every side by those who needed something from him. Passing through Jericho, there was a publican (tax collector) who wanted to see Jesus. Why? The latest craze, or perhaps he was curious, and maybe he needed something himself.

“And Jesus entered and passed through Jericho.
And, behold, there was a man named Zacchaeus,
which was the chief among the publicans, and he was rich.
And he sought to see Jesus who he was;
and could not for the press, because he was little of stature.
And he ran before, and climbed up into a sycomore tree to see him:
for he was to pass that way.
And when Jesus came to the place,
he looked up, and saw him,
and said unto him,
Zacchaeus, make haste, and come down;
for to day I must abide at thy house.
And he made haste, and came down, and received him joyfully.
And when they saw it, they all murmured, saying,
That he was gone to be guest with a man that is a sinner.”  
Luke 19:1-7 (KJV)

Did you see the line that was crossed? Jesus reached out to a rich man, though little, and invited himself in. Murmuring crowds, well, murmured. Why? Rich? Tax collector? Different height? No. Simply put, he was a sinner.

There is this idea of what others can and cannot do with who they are, and who others are. We could easily isolate ourselves by these differences, but I see Jesus reaching across the aisle!

I’ve traveled to Israel several times, and would like to do it again, but when I’m there I try to imagine the differences between me and “them”. Suddenly, I’m out of my comfort zone. I’m trying to “blend in” and not be so starkly different. Well. I am different in many ways! From my language, and to it’s unique accent, all the way to how I see the world around me.

I See It

Suddenly, I see it. I’m an isolationist and it’s difficult being around crowds that are not like me. Though I want to experience the “world”, I’m easily a loner. Traveling needs to be on my own terms. It’s difficult doing it as a “group” because there are expectations.

My first trip to Israel included an exit through Jordan. But first? Petra! After a few moments of strolling down the canyon entrance, I found it necessary to get away from the crowd I was with. The tour guide kept his eye out for me and was happy when he saw me sitting in the shade. Of course. I’m a shade-hopper, but I’m also a loner! Yes. A loner. I enjoyed simply watching, looking and thinking about this other side of the world I was on! By myself. In the shade.

But here’s where I leave the isolationist attitude behind. I love to connect with people. There’s the lady at Subway, that couple that owns the resale shop, the woman that runs the self-checkout at another store… This list is long. There are distant family members that I cannot wait to connect with, friends that are so necessary to get through life, and, of course, my immediate family.

So. Allow me my periods of need to feel isolate. I’m not lonely, nor ever truly alone. I’ve got you!