The Book of Strange New Things

by Michel Faber

I know John says, “Love not the world, nor the things of the world. For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but of the world. And the world passeth away, and the lust thereof: but he that doeth the will of God abideth forever.” But that’s a different point, a point about ALL the mundane stuff we concern ourselves with, all the baggage of being physical beings. And I think John is being too harsh on people. He assumed the Second Coming would happen in his own lifetime—it might come any day, maybe tomorrow afternoon, certainly not centuries in the future. All the early Christians thought that, and it made them intolerant of any activity that wasn’t urgently focused on Heaven. But Jesus understood—God understands—that people have a whole life to live before they die. They have friends and family and jobs, and children to give birth to and raise, and lovers to cherish.

“Let’s not go there.” “That’s what people always say about places where they already are.”

You were either a raging alcoholic or you didn’t touch drink. Same with cynicism.