My God

Mark Twain

If I could create my own god

a soul of both solace and mirth

He who needs no one’s flatteries

nor demands them from all the earth

 

He would not possess jealousy

a trait that even men despise

Showing each one he is equal

within the lord of this worlds eyes

 

Having made of each a sinner

he would love all of us the same

Blaming himself for our failings

not tempering us in a flame

 

Our lives would be a tapestry

a quilt of love, that beauty built

Where he'd take pride in what we are

and not punish us, for his guilt

 

Author's Note

We have to keep our God placated with prayers, and even then we are never sure of him -- how much higher and finer is the Indian's God......Our illogical God is all-powerful in name, but impotent in fact; the Great Spirit is not all-powerful, but does the very best he can for his injun and does it free of charge.
Mark Twain

It seems that it truly is our own intolerance of others that will do us all in. We need to occasionally look at ourselves and the things we believe. How else can we ever effect change. It almost makes me wonder why Jesus decided to come here as a 6 ft white man with blue eyes. This in a area where the population is under six ft tall and has light brown skin and brown eyes. He certainly would have stood out. We all know what populations do to those who are different. It is enough to ponder that a man doesn't know if he should laugh or cry! Could it be as simple an observation as this? Could it be true that man created God in his own image? That would surely be one way of explaining him acting like us.

Reviews

[jdr / Jennifer]

A very powerful, very courageous write. Although we all seem to think differently about religion- I wanted to comment on the beauty and elegance that this poetic piece of writing exuberates. 'Our lives would be a tapestry, a quilt of love that beauty built'- stunning imagery- and this piece has a wonderful flow about it. On a more personal note of its contents: ‘Do I believe In God?- Yes.’ But I also believe that God would want us to ask questions and to never stop searching for what ‘we’ believe in as individuals and as a whole. To find out what helps us get through life and experience it in all its glory. To learn to from every step we take and to pass our experience, our lessons and our love on to others. Not to doubt that there is a higher power than ourselves, but to find what it is that we believe in our own heart of hearts. I do not think that it is for us to prove in our own time, but to just believe… And to have the vast majority of the world believe… That is some miracle. No matter what name you give to it.

Thank you for sharing your incredible talent.

[Tate Morgan]

You always seem to intently study what you read.i appreciate that immensely. I never have been one to be led by the masses .I always make up my own mind. I look at the Soviet Union for instance and there was a government and way of living adhered to by an entire culture.Yet flawed to the core. I think we always need to evolve.If I were thew father of humanity I would not create a subspecies below me in every way. As a father i want my son to become more than me not to strive to be worthy of me.

[lee von cleef]

"More than me" , (A hitch hiker on your conversation) "More than me" I believe is a very Christen thought,not a universal one ,though it would be nice if all thought that way.

[Tate Morgan]

You are no hitch hiker lol To me you are a fellow traveler on the light /

[R J Askew]

Here, here. I wld create a god who would tell us all that he was leaving us alone for good. He wld make it plain that we are on our own and that we must trust our own judgement and not seek a cop out by piling all our issues on him, or expecting him to have answers. He wld tell us to grow up and give us no guidance at all. That wld be his greatest gift to us. It's time.

[ShameemAkhtar]

How do you see light without dark, enjoy health without illnesses. How do you experience joy without pain, feel peace without wars.

How do you know life, without death.

This, for me, is the reality of our existance and God is full of wisdom...

Extending beyond opiniating on the content however, well written poem. You capture this strong desire to build and see this utopian world, where there is no bad, just everything good. Isn't this not what we all want deep down?

But let's imagine this. Should this world ever have existed, would we ever have been the correct inhabitants for this world?

[Neva Flores Smith - Cha..]

A beautiful poem Sweet Tate, God is within us.

[*** Hey Jude***]

Well let us try this again. I left a comment on message, as well as email.
I like the "God" you see as being what is right, and true.
That is what we are taught, and learn that the Creation of all comes
from light, love, and ever evolving truths we learn along the way!
Sadly when Religion which is manmade comes into the picture
as you have shown religious people feel that they are the almighty judge,
only causing division between humanity.
I really like the remark about taking responsibility for ourselves.
We are the one that choose to grow, and learn, allowing change to take place as we mature in this journey called life. Always like the music you add, which enhances this work of art!
Well done ~ Jude :-)

[Siddhartha]

Yes I agree, introspection, humility and the knowledge that not everything is within the bounds of human reason are the essentials of a wise man...

[Mauricio Montoya]

I've always said “whatever floats your boat” nice work..

[poeticpiers]

Omnipotence does not require placating by his creations. Though most religions claim he does. A case of man crediting God with mens desires. I am as my God made me why should I seek to change

[Sugar Plum ♥]

Yes, I agree with the wise words about God and image of Him on earth, we all need to live in peaceful world, created by just ONE whose name is Love, and who never will abandone us for the dark side...as that`s question of Creating...The end verses are really philosophycal and have deep sense...
thank you for your share and I like it much!
~nia~

[*~*Butterfly Kisses*~*]

Brilliant, inpiring write about God. I wish the world could get some kind of inspiration from this as well. Too many think that we must be "perfect" in the eyes of God, when I believe we are all the same. We are all flawed and I believe he knows that of us. I don't understand the notion of following a book of rules created by Him even though I myself is a christian and have been to church to hear all his stories. These religious people are supposed to be good, instead encouraging intolerence and greed for others when not everyone is the same religion, or follows the same god.


Loved this piece. Thank you for posting such a inspirational write for the world.