HEAPING COALS

We've all heard the phrase "turn the other cheek."

Also, "Show your enemy nothing but kindness, for by doing so you will heap hot coals on his head."

I'm paraphrasing slightly; I've never been very Biblical and I can't bring myself to hunt through the whole Good Book looking for a quote.

But lately, I've noticed a good bit of despair hanging around some people I know, and I just can't allow such a basely rotten emotion to get away unmolested.

In this case, despair is the enemy. Depression, A Bad Day, Ennui, The Blues, whatever you want to call it-- it's there. And it's insidious.

I found a great kind of cure.

It's an inspirational set of lyrics to a particular song I've been listening to. Oh sure, songs have cast out depression (or caused it) forever and a day; but it's not just the song that I want you to see here today.

It's also the group that performs it.

Many of you remember the Archies cartoon from when you were kids, which spun off into another musical scooby-doo-like chase cartoon entitled "Josie and the Pussycats."

Last year, they made a movie about it. And that movie had a soundtrack!

This was by no means a Moulin Rouge, or John Williams score, or an Ennio Morricone spiritual piece. It was CANDY, pure and simple.

Thing is, candy has a way of seeping into you and affecting you without you even noticing. Josie and the Pussycats was a funny movie, a trivial movie, a re-creation of an even more trivial cartoon-- but it had a message in it. At least, one that I found anyway.

I'd like to quote the song for you now. It's entitled "I Wish You Well," and after you read it I imagine you'll understand what the title of this entry means.

I wish you well
Couldn't you tell
After all these years

I wish you well
You're left in the world
That you're dreaming of

I wish you well
I wish you love
I wish myself
All of the above

What made me think
That I could survive
All the wear and tear?

It's not my thing
To stand here and pose
For some William Tell

I wish you well
I wish you love
I wish myself
All of the above

If there was a better time
I could not find it
It's mine not yours
And yours not mine
And we couldn't hide it

Don't take me on
A ride with you
It's a roller coaster
The only time I look at you
Is on a rock and roll poster
I wish you well

Where are you now?
Couldn't you see through
The sweat and tears?
I took my bow
While you confirmed
All my saddest fears

I wish you well
I wish you love
I wish myself
The world I dream of

I wish you well
I wish you love
I wish myself
All of the above
All of the above
All of the above
All of the above

...and there you have it. This is a person who's letting go of despair and wishing it well. Go hard, despair. Hope you have a good time.

But what's truly inspirational about these lyrics is that tiny little line that we are taught from birth never to say:

"I wish myself all of the above."

We NEVER get to admit NEED, WANT, or DESIRE. These things are icky, never to be spoken. You're allowed to fight for what you want and to elbow your way to the first place in line, but not to wish anything for yourself unless you simply TAKE it.

This sentiment is the crux of what I'd like to tell all those who are blinded by despair or weighted down by things they just can't let go of.

Wish it well. Wish it love. And for god's sake, wish YOURSELF all of the above.

There's never been any harm done by wishing someone well, and there's CERTAINLY no harm in wishing the same thing for yourself. By doing so you circumvent despair, hurtful feelings and harm entirely.

Wish it well. Wish YOURSELF well. And move on -- because baby, you deserve it.

I wish you well. I wish you love. And I wish myself--- ALL of the above.

Josie and the Pussycats. Philosphical Genius kittens of love. Who'd'a thunk?

Posted by Agent M at June 10, 2002 05:12 PM