The Devil And Billy The Kid
ShuutokuTentei
Sometime around 1859 a slightly built, lithe young man with
protruding teeth, was born in New York City. Now by the time he died
at twenty one years old, it is said that he had killed one man for
every year of his life. A most ignoble record if it were only true.
Many historians are hard pressed to correlate the myth with the man.
Of course Billy is not the only person throughout history recognized
and exploited for what he did not do. One Biblical example of such
exploitation is Mary Magdelene. While Billy’s notches were said to be
on the handle of his pistol, Mary’s were said to be on the visible
side of her bed posts. To this very day, there are those that still
believe that Billy killed twenty one men, and Mary was a prostitute.
How does such misinformation propagate? It must have been the devil?
Right? Well …
Lets start at the beginning. When God called out to Adam with
the question; Have you eaten from the tree? Adam blamed it on Eve.
When God asked the same of Eve, she blamed it on the serpent.
Understanding that the serpent is the manifestation of the devil, I
deny not that Satan is the price and power of the air, nor do I imply
that he is faultless and blameless. Am I asking who is really
responsible for what? Clearly no one wants to take personal
responsibility for their actions and so it goes. It is simply easier
to blame it on the devil. Perhaps Adam and Eve had a good spin doctor
hiding out in the bushes? Today, both prince and pauper as a matter
of survival, are compelled to learn the subtleties and nuisances of
how to spin something. The fact that we call it a spin, is putting a
spin on spin. Why not say its learning how to twist fact and reality
so that they better suit your purpose rather than serve the truth.
I am persuaded that this type of irresponsible shenanigan has
been going on since our parents were banished from the garden. Just
as Billy the Kid has been saddled with killing twenty-one men, so it
is that Satan has been blamed for all of the ills of mankind since the
beginning of time. Clearly, he has propagated many horrors upon
mankind in the effort to turn man away from God. Clearly he beguiles
those that have lent their ears. Clearly, he takes advantage when
advantage is given or apparent. But he is not omnipresent. He is not
omnipotent. He is not omniscient. Therefore he can not be
responsible for all of the ills of mankind. So then whom shall we
direct our blame, our wrath, our fear. Perhaps would should fear
ourselves much more so than fear Satan.
Since we do not understand the reason for calamity, it is human
to either blame it on Satan or turn toward God for understanding. Yet
it is mans interaction with man, and mans interaction with the forces
of that which are, that puts us in the path of calamity. God gives
each of us a guide by which to live. Some of his guide is written,
some of his guide is instinctual, some of his guide is a result of our
daily communication with him. He gives the information, we process
the information, and then we make a choice. Within that choice lay
cause and effect. No it does not guarantee we will be free from
calamity, but by taking more responsibility for ourselves it puts less
power in the hands of the adversary. I do not know if Billy and the
devil know each other. I hope not for Billy’s sake. However, the two
just might have something in common. Perhaps they did not do
everything that they have been labeled with. But I know someone who
does know!
ShuutokuTentei
RS 2010