GOD’S WISDOM AS I UNDERSTAND IT

Bored out of my wits this past Saturday, I went to the kitchen, turned the TV on to channel 18, and started to look for something to cook or clean. The black & white program caught my attention—and held it!

A handsome young man played a piano and sang songs he wrote, both words and music, to a room full of a young audience. The extremely witty and satirical songs referenced the political and social tribulations of the world in the sixties and seventies. I realized that all of those tribulations are still going strong and expanding today.

As the audience cheered, I hurried to scribble the singer’s name: Tom Lehrer.

I decided to research Mr. Lehrer’s biography the next day.

The following morning was time to zoom with my “Walking Group”, no longer walking together due to the corona virus pandemic, but zooming instead to comfort and support each other. And since I didn’t have time to conduct my research about Mr. Lehrer, I asked the group about him.

One volunteered to let me know that my information is out-of-date. “He is dead,” she said.

I lived in and out of the States in the sixties and seventies. Did he live and die while I was living abroad?

Mr. Lehrer IS ninety, and is still alive and well. I felt a surge in my faith in God and his ultimate wisdom. His best creation twinkles longer. Call it the law of natural selection, if you want. Sure, some outstanding humans die young to offset the rule. Exceptions are God’s mercy on us, talented and not, to keep us blissfully hopeful for a long life--until we die!

"Coronavirus” floated in the air. The lips saying the word were big and small; young, mature, and drooping old. Copies of the word in every accent and intonation filled the air in my bedroom – from floor, to ceiling, to walls.

My head shifted on the pillow and I turned to sleep on my right side. A minute later I switched to my left side. My hands pulled the bedspread over my head. Then my legs pushed it off to my feet. My body now alternated from too warm to too cold!

Suddenly, a big, red face with pursed lips appeared. I swallowed hard.

“Coronavirus is a hoax, fake news, folks. It is Chinese.” the pursed lips announced.

 I relaxed. Turned to lie on my back.

“Who said the Coronavirus is a fraud, guys?” The pursed lips said. “Few cases in our country, that’s all. May be fifteen. We are taking every measure to protect our citizens.”

I shivered—pulled the bedspread up to my shoulder. Still cold, I pulled it over my face.

“Don’t pay your taxes on April 15, much later, three months later,” the pursed lips announced!

My body switched from cold, to warm, to cold, to warm.

Then the pursed lips started to produce a series of statements that seemed to adapt to some sort of audience reactions. “It is okay, guys--we will give incentive checks-- to stimulate the economy—to those who need them—in accordance to their income---.”

In a daze, I jumped out of my bed, dragging part of the bedspread with me to the floor. “A check! A check!” I mumbled. “I’ll cash it and pay my taxes.”

BEHOLD

BEHOLD

THE MISSION: A NOVEL

Back Cover

IN A CAVE!

IN A CAVE

Where It is?

Red Poppy Festival

Enjoying Friends, people, and the view at the Red Puppy Festival, Georgetown, Texas.

Selling novels, also! 

In God's Garden Discussion

Discussion Points

1.      What does the title “In God’s Garden” refer to?

2.      Do you think that Nadia lived her life as if in a garden? Why?

3.      What reasons did Nadia’s grandfather give to his son to discourage him from marrying Nadia’s mother? Do you agree with him? Did the events of the novel prove him right, or wrong?

4.      What triggered Nadia’s feelings toward her mother? Did her sister, Salwa, feel the same? Why?

5.      Name Nadia’s true love or loves. Explain.

6.      According to Nadia, how many meanings are there to the expression “God willing”? Which one she followed? Explain.

7.      Is there a gap between appearances and reality in the Egyptian culture? Explain?

8.      List the differences and similarities between Nadia’s life in Egypt and her life if she had been living in the United States?

9.      How did the political, social, and economic changes brought by Abd al-Nasser, al-Sadat, and Hosni Mubarak affect Nadia’s family?

10.  Show how religion and life intertwine in Egypt?