"Finally, I suspect that it is by entering that deep place inside us where our secrets are kept that we come perhaps closer than we do anywhere else to the One who, whether we realize it or not, is of all our secrets the most telling and the most precious we have to tell." Frederick Buechner
Monday, January 22, 2007
MadPriest: The Early Years
Last night, round about midnight, the PI appeared at my door, having come into possession of a box of his baby pictures. I can only show a few here, but they provide early evidence of his proclivity to traverse the landscape between the sacred and the profane.
Here he is, pen in hand, having practiced creative arts on the face of one of his younger siblings.
There he is with his Mum. As you can tell, it's washday. You can see the source from whence he inherited his creative traits. His mum certainly employed creative parenting techniques to keep her naughty little lad under control. Quite ingenious, given the apparent humble poverty of his youth. This is also, apparently, where he cultivated a different perspective on life.
Here he is on a walk with his Dad.
MP always hated to have wet nappies, but I'm willing to bet his Dad hated it more! As you can see from the expression on his face, what MP hated more than wet nappies was being seen in wet nappies!
As everyone knows, MP loves animals. Here he is, chomping away on the tail of the family cat. MP, ever precocious, called her "Black Pussy". He's apparently always fancied them, and here we see the origins of that life-long obsession. Later, in the 70s as I recall, he would try to dress them in shiny high-heeled boots. Fortunately, however, he was able to channel that creative energy and learned to chase a pen instead. Thus it was that he capitalized on his natural inclination for the absurd and honed the skill of sarcasm and wit.
Finally, here's the little bugger, sound asleep on his 'Willy' - the family pup. Such a beatific smile, eh? Who knew there was such mischief and mayhem, insanity and chaotic thought all bundled up in that precious little boy?
And thus it is that we have come to a better understanding of the early years of the child who would one day earn the distintive title and vocation: "MadPriest."
There are more pictures - some rather curious, others downright bizarre - which I will share with you at a later date.
This is quite enough for now - I think even MP might agree with me on that.
9 comments:
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(With thanks to Sojourners)
Thank you for not sharing the "curious" pictures.
ReplyDeleteWhen it comes to having insight into MadPriest, I believe less is most assuredly more.
I didn't realise that your piece was going to be both scholarly and historically accurate. I had been warned that it was a spoof.
ReplyDeleteAnd thanks for reminding me of the cat chewing incident, I particualarly liked seeing that photo again. Unfortunately the black pussies we get in England are not as attractive as the American breed, and with my aversion to flying, I fear I may now never get to see a proper American black pussy, close up. Never mind, there are plenty of sites on the internet catering for black pussy fanciers.
Thud..OH MY.
ReplyDeleteBlack pussy...maurauding marker-er, madness, madness...
LMAO!!
One question:
ReplyDeleteDoes Barbara know about this "other girlfriend" thing?
ROTFLMAO! Oh, dear Elizabeth, you have outdone yourself! (And I didn't think that was possible.) You have done us all a great service in deepening our understanding of our beloved MadPriest.
ReplyDeleteJust remember, my friend: Payback is hell. To what lengths will MadPriest not now go in uncovering your own past?
This is delicious. Absolutely delicious.
Hilarious! You are obviously a person of great spiritual discernment, who is able to plumb the depths of a depraved mind. Kinda scary.
ReplyDeleteElizabeth, I had to create a faux blog to comment here. I'm celebrating that I can post a comment. That's all for now.
ReplyDeleteThanks Elizabeth, LOL. With the upchucking, I mean upcoming, speech from our Prez tonight I needed a good laugh.
ReplyDeleteThanks also for introducing Eileen. (Eileen, read Ancient Rage by Mary Lee Wiles, it's about the struggle of Old Testament becoming the Way of Christ. A very good follow up to Red Tent).
Oooh, Thanks for the book suggestion Deborah. I'm going to put it on my wish list at Amazon!
ReplyDeleteAnd nice to "meet" you too!