The would-be murderers lured the monk to dinner. They laced his food and wine with cyanide, watched closely, and waited for him to die.
Nothing happened.
So they shot him at close range and left him for dead.
Shortly afterward, the monk was seen attempting to flee. He was viciously beaten, and still refused to die, so they threw him into a freezing river.
Several days later, the monk’s body was found with water in his lungs, confirming a final death by drowning.
Who was this zombie monk?
Grigori Rasputin, self-proclaimed mystic and healer, the trusted advisor to the Czar and Czarina of Russia. He died (finally) on December 30th in 1916 in a political coup that ultimately failed and helped usher in the Russian Revolution.
History is rift with stories of power, corruption, and humans behaving badly.
A few of those themes came up at our Christmas Eve dinner table this year. We were a merry crew of Dutch, Serbian, German, Portuguese and Americans. I knew two of the guests, but the rest were strangers.
Somehow the conversation turned to the corruption of real estate, the hypocrisy of “fake” hippies, and the general despicable nature of humans.
It was not a conversation I wanted to be in, and yet, I felt completely content.
Would you like to know why?
I wish I could say it was my saintly nature. But I have to attribute it to my new friend, Morcego.
Morcego means bat in Portuguese
This four month-old kitten took a liking to me. He climbed me like a tree, attacked the strings on my blouse, and eventually fell asleep in my lap at the dinner table, while the turbulent discussion raged around us.
I heard the words, but they passed right through me. I was in heaven, looking down at the sleeping kitten in a tiny Christmas sweater, curled in my lap.
Years ago, I tried very hard to make myself care more about politics. I subscribed to a news service promising to curate balanced perspectives from all sides. I really wanted to be that active, engaged citizen.
I canceled the subscription before the month was done.
I don’t know the grand solution for what ails the world, but here’s what I do know:
If we all spent more time falling in love with what’s right in front of us (a kitten, a lake, or even a politician) the world would be a completely different place.
We we’re in love, that’s what we see: Love.
Call me naive, but I think that’s the real answer.
Plus, I really just wanted an excuse to share these photos of Morcego. 💕
Wishing you peace, joy and a year filled with small, holy moments of love.
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