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 /

[carol burgess romance]

A very interesting view of God...first I like your style of writing, rythmn is great...I disagree with how you see God....yes he is a jealous God he wants no other Gods before him....I believe his plan for us is beyond our understanding....I believe we are here to serve him and all of humanity...I also believe he will guide you if you ask him...Jesus with blue eyes and fair skin is a picture in the minds of someone who do not know the colour of skin in the part of the world where he was born is not as we see in bible pictures. Living in a free world we can share our views and not be condemed for them, thank God.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you for your comments. I cannot imagine being considered a benevolent being and needing to create a subspecies to myself and wanting their praise to make me feel good about myself. But these are just my own views.

[Keith Rivas]

Would you like to discuss anything in particular about Jesus or Christianity? Other religions, perhaps?

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you but I doubt it will do anything to change my view. Faith blind faith that is doesn't appeal to my mind.

[KristynRuth]

Oh. My. Word. I absolutely agree with every word in this poem. This is full of thought.

[Tate Morgan]

Krystyn Thank you I am sorry this has taken me so long

[Valentine]

Tate, as a Christian and a person that was healed instantly when prayed for after 1d0 years of seizures...I cannot doubt the healing power in Christ's blood that He shed for all of us..Kathie

[Tate Morgan]

I understand and dont take this as anything but what it is My questions about the faith we all claim to be so dear to ,.

[J. Hampton]

love the provocative and rhetorical flavor
it is both creative and bold and as always well done
but...somehow it has a bitterness to it ?
that saddens me...
God is the father of creation... all things seen and unseen .... Love
in 99% of religions or shall I say faiths...across the board there are an enormous amount of moral absolutes...some sort of grayefulness/praise/worship/offerings...corporate bounty for the group....and responsibility to community,...the past and future generations...prayer ...and memorial...song and dance...and joy of life and all thats given within it....
I simply feel more positive
why seriously is poor Jesus 1st and foremost to be picked apart...because of mans artistic renderings ???? man...i say my Dad nor my neighbor...nor his can nor does he beat himself up over what his kids or greatgrands have done or drown in blame...
and all God asks is actually...
Love him
love your neighbor as yourself

but I do love your writes sir

[Tate Morgan]

I have no animosity toward god. I simply do not abide the ways of organized religeon.

[Becky C Strukamp]

A powerful message Tate and one we all need remind ourselves of. Thank you for this most beautiful poem.

[realmwriter]

You know, I've read a lot of agnostics and atheists points of view on the subject of God and their utter disbelief. I am astounded that they claim to be so open minded when they certainly are not about God. They find the idea of an organized religion offensive to their intelligence, they cannot or will not see that there exists the possibility that their really is a God that created us. Maybe he choose to use evolution as one of a myriad of tools at his disposal. I think it very ignorant among scientist and I might add arrogant, to believe that all things that exist in the world and vastness of space around it were not created by an intelligent God. The very fact that you seek the existence of God proves you must believe there is something out there, some reason that we are on this coil of dirt and stone. I choose to believe in the science, yes, but only secondary to God. Perhaps he did allow evolution to take place and this is how we came to be on this planet. God created us in His image, Maybe he let us take a while to get there...!

[Tate Morgan]

You are correct i always seek the creator .I doubt he is the one we all claim to know so well.However my mind wants to believe he simply "is" So for me i look and always will for proof. If i never find It Ill hope. But I will think hiom wiser than I greater not only in power but in humanity.And so I will not ascribe to the idea that someone greater than me needs or demands anything as humanly vain as worship. I could see a god somewhat like Twain with the same rye humor who in the end hits me on the shoulder and says "Hell I was just funning you when i said you had to worship me lol !:

[minisla]

Not sure if jesus is depicted in this way around the globe just seems to fit in with the cultures involved. One reason why I have my doubts but not denying it at the same time.

[Tate Morgan]

Thank you I guess where i am from the catholic church sees him as a white man

[OBWhiteHawk]

That's interesting. I personally have my own God with the qualities you describe here. It seems like the Gods that have been created by those in the past are pretty negative. I am not really down with that.

[Tate Morgan]

I'm on board with that idea. thank you

[Constance Payne]

Very powerful in that you seem to have read into the wonderings of my heart and soul.

Excellent musings.

[Tate Morgan]

thank you so much i have a friend the wife of My long time friend George whom i have written about. I visited the other day and Ann thats her name is a jehova witness.She is always trying unsuccessfully to convert me. Well Tate she says you need to get on board before the end comes . "Now Ann you know I dont hold to your beliefs." "Yeah i know and I respect that"." Well I respect you too." So we start talking about the kids nowadays how they all sit round the computer all day. It isnt the way we were raised. Well they dont go anywhere we cant let them outside for fear they will be molested or killed in this evil world."Ann" I said you cant live your life afraid of everything". I know "Well I said the problem is the television wanting to convince us all that Susan Smith is our neighbor wanting to kill our kids" So I think we should turn the thing off"She says well we are all going to come back and live in glory on the earth in the end" No more struggle no more strife" Well Ann isnt that what you are complaining about i said" :Imean who will work to make your life great and easy? Who will feed you ? Well she said that will all be provided .I said well imagine that a place where all we do ios sit round happy watching our ipads and god delivers food to the door .Isnt that what your complaining about now? Your kids do nothing and they grow fat and you wish they could work and play to grow strong. Well that is something to think about" Just then the bombs went off in Boston and Ann says " See there its the end of the world you better get your act on board I'd hate to leave a good man behind you know. Especially one of my own." Well Ann I said Ill ride this one out thanks"