Friday, April 06, 2007

OMG

Discuss.

8 comments:

Anthony said...

Much as I abhor internet/sms-ese, BRB is pretty succinct. A mourner seeing the funny side is another matter entirely!

Law Fairy said...

OMG, Andy. ROFLMAO.

Which probably isn't a great idea at work, KWIM?

Tyrone Ferrara said...

Grace and peace be multiplied unto you through the knowledge of God, and of Jesus our Lord, which according to his abundant mercy hath begotten us again unto a lively hope by the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead. - Good Friday

Elizabeth said...

My texting daughter says that Mary should be saying OMG. :-)

Anonymous said...

Nice new picture, Andy!

Anonymous said...

That is, nice new picture of you, not of the crucifixion.

N. English said...

Us agnostic non-texters are like, WTF? When I finally got it, ISMOMN (I Spit Milk Out My Nose).

Andy said...

Hmm. Not much "discussion" going on here.

Well, allow me a few words. (Heck, it's my blog, anyway.)

I LOVE this. I really do. And I apologize if anyone is upset by it. Let me say why I like this.

First, the "txt" lingo relates to the modern relevance of the crucifixion. Here is an historical event from nearly 2000 years ago -- the routine execution of a homeless mystic who spoke truth to power, an execution of political convenience -- that to this day continues to shape the lives of millions of people around the world. And the Truth that Christ spoke needs desperately to be spoken to the Powers that exist today.

(I noted today with especial poignancy the prayers for those who persecute others in the name of Christ.)

"BRB" -- well, as I like to say, if God doesn't have a sense of humor, I'm in serious trouble. Of course, a casual sense of humor is not something One enduring unbearable and, indeed, lethal, agony can be expected to display. Nevertheless, He was in fact "right back." "BRB" isn't one of the stations of the cross, but it's certainly part of the subtext.

"LOL" is probably more controversial. If you understand it as mocking, as doubtful, as suspicious, then yes, it's troubling. But laughter can also be an expression of joy, and you know, there's a reason we call this Good Friday, for all its intensity. This act of oppression and violence and shame and humiliation was the moment that set the world free. Make a joyful noise unto the Lord, wrote the Psalmist. Laughter is a joyful noise; therefore, I see laughter -- the laughter of joy, not mocking derision (which reminds me, I need to put Parsifal on) -- is a completely appropriate response to the Crucifixion.

Wherever you are on your spiritual journey, however you understand (or don't understand) the Divine, allow me to repeat for you part of today's Episcopal prayer liturgy on your behalf:

Let the whole world see and know that things which were cast down are being raised up, and things which had grown old are being made new, and that all things are being brought to their perfection by Him through whom all things were made.