“You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.”
― American Author, Anne Lamott
~~~~~~
“We would be warm below the storm
In our little hideaway beneath the waves
Resting our head on the sea bed
In an octopus’s garden near a cave.”
— Octopus’s Garden by Richard Starkey (Ringo Starr, the Beatles)
I learned something incredibly organic about human nature,
by watching videos of a baby innately laughing at the antics of his father casually and loudly tearing strips of paper,
both father and child sharing an amazing, human, bonding moment.
Precious seconds of sheer joy for both.
Have you seen this video yourself?
Were you tempted to recreate it in your own home?
It gives me pause to realize the simple things that make us human — a smile, laughter, tears, a whisper.
Sharing moments. Or living in isolation.
Both ends of a tangled spectrum.
We dream of reaching the moon and the stars.
We seek light in the darkness. Security and safety.
Bonds with those we trust.
We gravitate towards certain people
until we find our tribe.
Or we find ourselves making deals
with the devil.
All part of being human.
Humanity is deeply flawed — and far from perfect.
Perpetually evolving and at times bi-polar
when it comes to things like equality and injustice,
bias, prejudice, hate, tolerance, empathy, kindness, hypocrisy.
And to be honest, Anne Lamott’s sardonic quote shook me to the core at first, until I realized the brilliant, nuanced, ironic implications
and wondered if anyone else understood what the author really meant
in a web of words that were supposed to make you think — beyond the words —
As if thinking was the thing that sets us apart, that flexes and bends the mind, that inherently and beautifully, exquisitely makes us human.
Like the precious sound of a child’s laughter.
Or the poetic imagination
of an octopus’s garden.
Or the deeper meaning of things.
I wonder if you agree.
About the Creator
Komal
I write poems and stories that hit the feels.
When I’m not lost in my own plots, I’m either daydreaming about the next big idea or just winging life with a grin.
𝕀 𝕙𝕒𝕧𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕖 ℙ𝕠𝕨𝕖𝕣 𝕥𝕠 𝕞𝕒𝕜𝕖 𝕒𝕟 𝕀𝕄ℙ𝔸ℂ𝕋
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Comments (11)
Thought-provoking! We are made to love on so many levels. When we operate in anything but love we’re making deals with the devil as you say. Great job getting people to put on their thinking caps! 🧢
I absolutely love this and want to say that you have reached an understanding of God that some cannot . Our beautiful God is an amazing loving God, but it is also very needed for Him to hate. He hates because of sins. For if He did not hate, He could not love to the very fullest. So glad to see that you understand this. You are an amazing writer!
Giving me goosebumps, this style of writing is incredibly hypnotic and soothing. Taking one single thought or idea, slowly building on it, maybe not even knowing where it’s going while writing it. An expression of simply existing within the words, goosebumps all over my arms, and the layout, that makes it even more better. “You can safely assume you’ve created God in your own image when it turns out that God hates all the same people you do.” ― American Author, Anne Lamott ((( what a wake up call this quote was, I dislike the word hate, we should never hate anyone. We can dislike what they do, but to hate the person is murder)))
The gift given to human beings is the ability to perceive and appreciate things at a profound level...and to grow from that. That's why the world is the way it is.
Hi Komal, this is an interesting article. Great start with an Anne Lamott quote!
A thoughtful reflection on the beauty and complexity of humanity, this piece intertwines joy, connection, and introspection. It challenges us to embrace both the simple and profound moments that define us as human.
This beautifully ties Anne Lamott’s wit, Ringo Starr’s whimsy, and the purity of a child’s laughter into a poignant reflection on humanity's flaws and wonders—thought-provoking and heartfelt!
I disagree with that statement. You can hate yourself because you are just as bad as you perceive others to be. A famous poet once said, *"I set out to find evil people in the world, but I couldn't find a single one. However, when I looked within myself, I realized there was no one worse than me."* God cannot hate because hatred is a human trait. God is different; that's why He must only know how to love. Besides, we cannot fully trust in things we haven't understood ourselves. I apologize if my words seemed harsh to you. I liked your poem. ✨😊
I don't agree with Anne Lamott's quote. I though God was supposed to be all loving. But I loved your poem though!
This was very thought provoking! Well written!
Wow, your words are so thoughtful and relatable! I love how you captured the beauty of simple moments and the depth of human nature. It really made me think. Great job! 💕✨ You are very talented, girl 🤝