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 /

[Tina Louise UK]

Though provoking piece hun...powerfully penned!! :) x

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Tia (It is always with regret that i am forced to question what we hold drea.

[BlackRose]

A pondering piece but so pure in it's words. God loves us all very much so. God of almighty that cares for each as his children. If only we could all be this way, the world would be so much better off and not in the fate of mother nature's storm, tornedos and all that's destroying our world stepping closer to who knows. And do we want to know. It all starts with us creating, building and loving more for a better society. What we are here to do. He won't sin upon others who sin, for he still loves them in just the same as others in his caring ways. Guilt may lie but will never stop him on his quest for what he intended. ;o)

[Tate Morgan]

Yes sadly we still kill each other wholesale on the world market. It is so sad that we have not grown outta this childhood as of yet. As a race we one of the very few other than chimpanzees that kill their own kind.

[BlackRose]

Yes, so true. It's sad to hear and see it still happening. And that is true too, and to kill for what? What do they get out of it, but nothing to gain from it. They get their due one way or another.

[Tate Morgan]

Sad to see but so true of us predatory to the core

[BlackRose]

Yep it is. :o(

[wordman]

loved the write and the theme of it liked mark twain and the music
I see a lot of religious poems on your page I wonder is he tugging on your heart strings

[Tate Morgan]

I have three religious based poems I believe. Like everyone i look at religion and wonder if it has merit.Unlike most though i am forced by my own curiosity to delve into the water and weigh in my own mind what is true and what may not be.Thanks for reading it . I hope I dont ever upset you by my meanderings

[WE]

this piece is written with a pureness that I feel is in my creators heart although we truly have different thoughts on things I do firmly believe that man has created God and Jesus Images in their own eyes for souls are colorless in my eyes

[Tate Morgan]

Yes so true so very true .thank you

[Jvl narasimharao]

It is a wonderful poem because we are all sinners and the creations of God.If God is really merciful, He has to excuse all of us and bear the brunt as Jesus did for all of us.

[Tate Morgan]

I agree with that he is as the father responsible for his children But I do not agree that he can pass that responsibility to his son He is responsible not Jesus.Would you let your son pay for your mistakes?

[Jvl narasimharao]

The fact is that I do believe that jesus and FATHER are one and the same because HE created him out of his own image.I am not a christian and do not know better than you.I am just supporting your write.In fact, my conception of God is different though

[Tate Morgan]

Hmm my thoughts on that are these why create someone else to take your place such as Jesus? For instance why I'd you want to be known for your wisdom and creativity here would you use an avatar to hide your identity? Aside fro That if it were true then who was Jesus talking to in the garden of Gethsemini when he begged god to take this cup from him?

[Emrick]

When i was in high school during inter-schools games i learned something. After the games a journalist asked a hindu student what made their team win,he said God helped us.Then he asked a muslim student from another school the same question,he answered god. And then he asked another student from a catholic school the same question,the student answered a lot of practice and God's help made us win. I asked myself,can a cow answer prayers or help.Or the God of christians help all,both good and bad.both idol worshipers and those who worship him.

I dont think man invented god.I dont think people are that stupid to carve an idol and worship it. There is something behind that. .Understanding God and how he works needs massive wisdom.Wisdom that only comes from him.

[Tate Morgan]

I think most certainly would and did create idols to worship it happens again and again however the predominant religion of an area is always the one that dominates converting many of the others through fear

[Cree Nations]

Once again Tate you captured me. I enjoyed this write a lot. I have a great fondness for Mr. Twain. I have much faith in the Great Spirit, and surely reverence Sister Moon, and Brother Son, and Mother Earth. I do have an abiding trust and love for my God.

[The Verse: A Poetry Jou..]

It speaks to me, the rejection and betrayal of faith. Simply perfect, no comments on the writing or style being that clearly it came from someone who has a high command of the English language and has a very authentic and polished style.

[Tate Morgan]

Many thanks .I am a simple man And my thoughts are usually direct as my questions are as well. But I seek my answers in the here and now. If there is a heaven i wish it well.My friends have more need of help in the present.Ill work on the real world while Im here and the heavens should I ever be there as well

[The Verse: A Poetry Journal]

Very well said.

[L.Edward]

Excellent muse. Yes I believe that we make god in our own image. Not that it lessens his presence as an independent entity with his own aspirations. Perhaps he is subject to his own process of self-realisation too. It feels to me like we are engaged in a process of cosmic co-creation with god. That he expresses himself through us. Yet we are free to choose how that expression occurs. That each of us with our unique human qualities are necessary to make up the jigsaw pieces of gods own conciousness which seeks to bring itself to wholeness and completion.

[Stella Armour]

i am happy just to know he is there....idols and religious festivals hold nothing for me.... and i think faith, love and charity are the most Godly virtues...Love your thoughts in this poem Tate..

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you Stella. I would be happy if that were what i could see as well.