A Letter from the Birthday Boy

It’s been a while since I was down home; and it’s a lot different now than I remember. Much has changed in the world from a human perspective, but from my seat, the only thing that really changed is names and dates. Everything else is what I remember. There was and is good and bad.
Everybody celebrates my birthday, whether or not they realize or want to admit it. Even those who hate me and my friends and followers have to acknowledge me. That’s OK, I understand.
Believe me; I know what it’s like to be poor. A lot of people in the world today aren’t much better off than my family was. They still herd goats and sheep and have hard times finding water, but there are many others who never give them a second thought. That makes me sad because Earth is really so small.
For most of my life, I walked where I had to go. Only a few times did I ride, and those were on a donkey. The roads were hot and dusty much of the time, that’s why I enjoyed going up in the hills and looking around, especially in the evenings. I always found it so peaceful up there, just my father and me. We’d talk as fathers and sons do, or at least did when I was there. You should try it.
I was born in a distant town because my folks had to comply with government regulations and a census. I know what it’s like to feel the oppression of uncaring officials. Even though they treated us badly, I never hated them.
Mom told me when I was born, they were lucky to find a place near the hotels, such as they were. It was a busy time. Most folks had no time for Mom and Dad because they were shabby-looking. She used to tell me how long the ride was from their hometown, and she had to ride on a donkey, right before I was born. Mothers are really special people. Like many loving moms, she stuck with me until the end.
I was just thinking back, she told me that when I was born, not too many people knew or really cared, sort of like today. There were a bunch of strangers, shepherds, she told me, who pulled night duty and were out in the hills tending their sheep. Dad sent some of his special co-workers to tell them that I was born, but other than that, I can’t say there was as much fuss, at least not until some Eastern mystics asked the governor about me. That’s when a lot of little boys died, because he wanted to kill me. My step dad took us to a foreign country. He said one of Dad’s special messengers told him to do it. Amazing!
My step-dad taught me his trade, carpenter. He always said a man ought to have a trade to fall back on. I must say, there was always this feeling, this spirit I felt inside me, that while I was learning to be a carpenter, there was something a lot more important I had to build.
Times were different when I was a boy. Still I always felt comfortable talking to the rabbi at synagogue about the Law and Prophets. My favorite rabbi even told me that he wondered where I came up with some of the questions AND even more so, the answers I would give him. I don’t know it all just came so naturally to me.
Even before I was bar mitzvahed, during a trip to the temple, I got involved asking the rabbis questions. They said they never heard such stuff from a country boy like me. I can laugh now, but my mother was SO mad at me. I can understand. They went three days thinking I was with my cousins, aunts or uncles. She didn’t hit me, but she told me never to stay behind again, and that was that.
Mom, if you only knew what we were talking about then, maybe you wouldn’t have been so mad.
My teaching time was limited, only about three years. I had 11 really good, close friends. Another one turned on me, and to this day, I don’t hate him. It was part of my father’s plan for me. I had a mission when I came, knew what I had to do, and told my friends so they could tell their friends and even strangers about how to live their lives and treat each other down here. Many are still doing that today.
When you read stories in newspapers, and watch gruesome stories about what is happening today, a lot blame my father. They wonder why he lets all that happen. He told me, but if you want answers, you’ll have to talk to my father directly. By the way, he doesn’t have a cell phone.
Right now, as you are scurrying around buying presents for your children and each other to celebrate my birthday, I will be right here waiting to talk with you about anything. Too bad to hear you are way too busy to talk to me. When you’re ready, I’ll be here, I promise. I can change life for the better forever. If you don’t have time I understand. I’ll love you just the same. That’s what my purpose on Earth was all about, loving you to the end.