Solomon's Private File #302
These stories about Stephen and Solomon take place starting in
1950's. Stephen wrote about his life in letters to a penpal, and then
in a secure blog, in case he lost his memory again, in the master
computer in his school for gifted students, which he started attending
in 2016 in a new incarnation, until his death. Now his son Solomon is
attending the same school, and is writing in his own secure blog for
his future incarnations.
All characters are fictitious, even if some of them might have names
that belong to some actual people, or act like people we know.
Solomon is 29 in this story, in the Summer of 2055.
Solomon's Private File #302 "Announcement In Rome"
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I shifted to a meeting with the Pope and Cardinals. I said, "Should I
have checked for weapons?" Paolo said, "Do shoes count?" I said, "Well,
I've never heard them count. Or say much more than clop or squeak."
They looked at me oddly, and chuckled. I said, "But they do have soles.
English is so good for mixing up words. One of my favorite toys."
Grins. Paolo said, "Would politicians agree with your opinion?" I said,
"They might think a whip would treat them better." Big grins. Paolo
said, "What is your second favorite toy?" I said, "Language, including
English. Do you really need me to mention the first?" Chuckles. He
said, "What is your third?" I said, "Psychologists." Chuckles and nods.
I said, "That also includes the mind." More nods. I said, "Still not
going to ask the first?" He said, "Oh, alright, what is your most
favorite toy?" I said, "The body. Mine, and others. Bet you thought I
was going to say something sexual." He said, "I did." I said, "It's
included in that. The body is our first toy, and one we always have,
and we are aware of it before we are aware of being aware." Thoughtful
nods.
I said, "But I'm not here for this odd topic, am I?" He said,
"Correct. We have had an interesting discussion." I said, "Cleaned up
the language, as you cleaned up the blood?" Chuckles. I looked around,
and said, "Good job." More chuckles. He said, "We have decided to ask
you for the life of Jesus, as you have outlined." I said, "Two things
in that. I won't create it until you make that announcement. Then I
will let you see it too weeks before publishing it, and there will be
no changes. We know you would want to as much as you could, so this
removes the temptation." He said, "Oh. Hmm, would it be in digital
form, our preview?" I said, "Did you think I would actually do that?"
He said, "I had hoped." I said, "The reputation of your Church precedes
you, but did you have to confirm it?" He said, "No, but it was
interesting to try." I said, "Not really." Chuckles.
I said, "Already thought up some statements?" He said, "We have.
We'll have to see the final er, product before we finalize them." I
said, "You were supposed to say that." He grinned. I said, "So, if you
agree, when's the big bomb, er, announcement?" Chuckles. He said, "Any
time." I said, "Think other denominations will be annoyed with you?"
Big grin, and he said, "I very carefully have no comment on that." I
said, "Should they have the preview in the delay, too?" He said, "Might
they try to release comments before you publish?" I said, "Since you
command forbidding that." He said, "Oops!" I said, "This is a fun game
we're playing, but it's only a game. Do you think God wouldn't know?"
He said, "Oh! You are functionally for Earth, just as God is to us." I
said, "Almost impossible to fully understand and accept, even for my
own group. But it's not just perception, it's intelligence, too. I know
what you would do before you do, barely thinking about it." He said,
Sharpens the mind, too. It's not as if you couldn't use some of that.
No, I'm not insulting you, I mean for all humanity." He said, "Thank
you."
He said, "This announcement, may our Press Secretary do it?" I said,
"Oh, still in the game." He sighed, and said, "I suppose so. If he did
it, I could say it was in error." I said, "I'm not saying you would do
that, but a good leader tries to keep open as many options as
possible." He pushed his feeling of gratitude at me. I nodded slightly.
I said, "I should not be here when you do it, to reduce possible
accusations of force." He said, "I didn't think of that one!" I said,
"I like being helpful. Want to see an unpublished action where I really
surprised some people with that?" He said, "Please!" I showed them the
attempted raid on the jungle archeological camp. They had the expected
reactions.
I said, "A preview gift." A large painting appeared, leaning against
the wall. I said, "Premature burial was common before scientific
medicine really got going. And what caused it, still happens today.
That is Jesus healing a man who was thought to be dead, and actually
entombed, named Eleazar." One of the Cardinals exclaimed, "Lazarus!" I
said, "Sorry, he can't hear you." Paolo laughed. Then he said, "It's
been adding up. I finally had to laugh." I said, "Thanks. I appreciate
that, Modern people mostly don't know that the dead didn't stay in
tombs like they were buried, in Judea. After a few years, when the
flesh had rotted away, the bones were placed in a mass grave, unless
they were of important people. Those were placed in a stone box in a
family er, cave." One asked, "Would Lazarus had fully died, if Jesus
hadn't healed him?" I said, "Yes, even if he hadn't been smothered in
sheets. Loose enough weave, though, for an unconscious man to breathe
through. But the cave was sealed. I think you know why. The smell."
Nods. I said, "One more thing, and this carried forward until the
modern time, people who were thought to be dead, who came back to life,
were often killed for real, for various superstitious reasons." Nods. I
said, "And also the people who were thought to make it happen. Yes,
even Christians after this event, supported that. Do NOT do that now."
Paolo said, "I promise." I said, "Good."
He said, "Will you do other art for us, on this er, topic?" I said,
encouragingly, "Yes?" I winked at the Cardinals, and they chuckled.
Paolo sighed, and said, "The prestige of having your work, and of
Jesus! And who could do better, you who can know the man better than
any other?" I said, "First reason doesn't convince me. Second, does.
Haven't I asked you not to argue effectively?" He laughed. So did the
others, after that. I said, "But not made up scenes, and where the
scene needs something you would object to, to make it show something
that conveys the true message, that's in it. You don't have to display
it. You can even destroy it after I give it to you. I will do NO
language dubbing of videos. Just subtitles. It's got to be all
authentic as can be." He said, "I support that. We don't want any
controversy with different versions." I said, "Not even with his
mother. You know, the version Mary?" Groans. I said, politely, "Thank
you." Chuckles.
I said, "You will own the paintings, but I will own the image. That
means I can share digital images of it as I choose, and the fees for
reproductions will be given to Christian charities for the poor. You
know HE would approve of that. If I make paintings as copies, they will
not be as large as yours. And they will cost as much as I can squeeze
out of rich people who aren't giving enough to charity." He said,
"Good! I didn't expect that." The Cardinals agreed, noisily. I said,
"Which paintings I do, well, you can choose from what's published, and
I may do some of my own choices. Should I assume you won't refuse
them?" He said, "You assume correctly!" I said, "I plan to do something
extra with your paintings. There will be a crystal in the frame that
will have a video of what's in the picture, and some of the emotions
that were present. What is spoken will be in the original language, but
will be understood by all. So, anything extra?" He said, "Will you do a
show about this?" I said, "You know I'm going to have to. Might be a
problem. CNN is a little reluctant to commit to broadcasting video of
his life, as I would present it, and they are the only ones who won't
edit it." He said, "If I ask them to show it?" I said, "Would shock
have to be public." He said, "I know."
I said, "Islam is going to feel deprived. They can't have the life of
the Prophet, because he prohibited pictures of people. And God told my
father not to do it, too. It's really not fair." He said, "I do feel
for them. I should say that." I said, "Maybe not. No matter what, some
understand." I said, "There is going to be a news interview with me,
after your announcement. They will want some kind of preview. That
picture alright for that?" He said, "Yes! Er, that would be very good,
with the story." I grinned. I said, "You didn't expect any of this, did
you." He said, "Most, not." I said, "Good!" Chuckles. I said, "In that
first show after your announcement, what if they ask you to be on it,
too?" He said, "Any positive exposure would be good for us, and showing
us as friends, we would view as VERY good." I said, "But is it fair to
the other major denominations?" He said, "It isn't, and that doesn't
He said, "If we invited them, they would also have to have the
crystals, so they can have a useful opinion to express." I said, "Would
He said, "That we will surely do!" I said, "After the announcement,
I'll be back here with the crystals. All still going to be here then?"
He said, "We will." I said, "One good option for the interview show, is
a recording of this meeting. Here's a crystal of it for review. When I
come back, I'll do a contact then. I expect something nice." We hugged,
and he had tears. So did some of the Cardinals. I shifted out.
I said to the president of CNN in his home, "Pope is going to ask for
the life of Jesus. He's also going to ask that CNN broadcasts the shows
I've prepared about it. Also, after making the announcement, he's
willing to appear on a news show about it with me. Probably to explain
why, to a lot of shocked people." He said, "Has he seen the shows?" I
said, "Nope." He said, "Interesting." I said, "After the announcement,
I'll give him all I plan to publish, and the shows, on crystals with
the command not to reveal them until they are published two weeks
later, to give them time to prepare useful statements about them." He
said, "Well planned. When do we get to preview the shows?" I said,
"Same as them, after the announcement. I haven't finalized them yet."
He said, "You want to fine tune the presentation to the mood of the
people." I said, "Of course." He said, "If we don't?" I said, "You
know." He sighed, and said, "I do." I said, "There are going to be
surprises, both good and bad for all sides. Were some of what were
viewed as miracles, then." He said, "Oh! Well, I think we'll have to do
the shows." I said, "I knew that." Chuckles.
I left, and he made some calls. Then Paolo's announcement was
broadcast, with the Cardinals visible behind him. After that, I shifted
in. He said, "I made the calls to my brothers, and they appreciated it
with different degrees of surprise." Grins. I said, "Which first,
crystals or contact?" He said, "Contact, please!" I did a local love
broadcast, and God joined us and said, "I am proud of your desire for
truth, for We are Truth! You now have my increased love and respect.
You fully serve your people as you were established to do. Go to all
with my full blessing." His love poured into them, almost smothering
them with it. Then he left. I said out loud, what he said, for the
record. They couldn't, because they were still trying to recover from
that. After a while, I said, "When He likes you, He really LIKES you."
Paolo said, "Wow!" I said, "True."
I said, "Here are the crystals." He took them and read them, and then
passed them on. He said, "Better even than you lead me to believe. Very
well done, too!" I said, "Thanks. Important subject for billions. Have
to be sensitive to that. Changes to your prepared after publishing
statements?" He said, "Probably, when we get time to do it." I said,
"We're being asked to do a live interview." He said, "I'm ready." I
looked at the Cardinals. He said, "The may make any comments they wish.
requesting, to the studio?" They nodded.
John said on air, "We have with us, Solomon, and His Eminence, Pope
Paolo, to discuss the request for the life of Jesus Christ." I said,
"May I jump in here for a moment? Some people believe that Christ was
actually the last name of Jesus. It wasn't. They didn't have last
names, surnames, or family names in that time and place. In English,
his name was Joshua, son of Joseph. In his own language, it was
pronounced, "Yeshua ben Yosef. Christ was a title, derived from Cristo
and Cristos, which is a translation of the Hebrew word, Messiah, which
is something like leader, with added religious connotations." Paolo
nodded, and said, "All that is very true." I said, "Because there were
no surnames, it was very common for important people to have titles
added to their names. People had a psychological problem dealing with
just one name per person, and not just because the names were far from
unique. It's the same in modern times." John said, "Yet you use only
one name." I grinned, and said, "Because I like unsettling minds that
expect only what they're used to. Makes them more open to learning."
Paolo said, "And being embarrassed and frustrated, when he's with
people who are addressed by their titles, who are in fact, less
important than he is. His father was the same, which severely er,
affected me when I was a Priest." We grinned at each other.
I said, "Poor John doesn't know what to make of this now." He said,
"Yes! You two appear to be friends." We nodded. I said, "I'm friends
with the heads of religions, and many in their religions, and Paolo has
known me since I had no idea who he was. Actually, before he fully knew
who he was, and would be." Paolo nodded, and said, "True." I said to
John, "You have a list that's feeling a little neglected." He cleared
his throat, and said to Paolo, "Did Solomon order this, or offer an
inducement?" Paolo said, "Not only did he not order or compel us to ask
for the life of Jesus, he discussed with us the possible impact of it,
just as his father did, many times, very objectively. Both were
personally against it, and have said so, publicly."
John looked confused, and said, "But why?" I said, "Why be against?
All history is changed to make it better for those who want it to be.
And what harm is in venerating a great man, if that leads to people
doing good things? Why create unnecessary er, difficulties with
believers? Now the other why." Paolo said, "God is Truth. We MUST
support that, or we are not worthy of God's Grace." I said, "Our
personal comfort isn't a priority in this." Paolo said, "But in a way
it is. We couldn't bear to be less in the eyes of God, for not sharing
all we knew about Jesus, and all we could know. We know how He felt
about that, because He told us, and very clearly!" We went to break.
I said to John, "Surviving this?" He said, "Barely. I'm so used to
You've noticed something here." He said, "I don't think I can say it."
Paolo said, "It was the same with his father. He is the highest, not
me, or any other person in existence. But he doesn't abuse that
authority, or even like it." Back on air, John said, "Did Solomon show
you what he would publish, before you decided to ask for it?" Paolo
said, "No he did not. We had not seen any of what he would publish
prior to our decision and the announcement. However, he did provide us
with an outline of what he planned, which he had given to the president
of CNN in discussing possible shows about this." I said, "And that was
his history, and his public life, including his ministry. Private life
will remain private. I will NOT show what he might have done in bed.
Anybody who needs to see that, is not somebody I want to be associated
with." He said, "But that would help us to understand who he was!" I
said, "I don't care. What you will see of his ministry will show who he
was, VERY well. I object to jealous and resentful people desperately
trying to pull down to their debased level, with irrelevances and
subjective moral judgements, those who were in all ways better than
them! I will NOT support that for any person." The camera was showing
Paolo looking at me with a lot of love.
I said, "How would YOU like it, if in the future, I would be
requested to show YOUR private life?" He said, "Oh! I think I
understand better now. But your father did that for The Buddha." I
said, "He did, and with The Buddha's blessing, after asking. The
current incarnation of the spirit of Jesus may in time remember that
life. If so, and that person gives permission, I may show some of his
private life." He said, "Do you think that person will remember that
life?" I said, "There is a problem with remembering the Jesus
incarnation. He was Enlightened then, and in some other incarnations,
too. So, he would most likely only be remembered after the current life
attained Enlightenment." He said, "I think I understand. Remembering
being Enlightened may interfere with becoming that way?" I said, "Yes.
Well said." He tried to hide his pleasure at the compliment, which
Paolo noticed. I said, "One more thing about that. God controls what
past lives we remember, and when. And he has reasons for that, as he
does for everything."
He asked Paolo, "Did Solomon offer any inducements to request the
life?" Paolo said, "Solomon didn't offer any of what I would call
inducements, only wise and objective counsel. Our only inducement was
the desire for truth, and God's love. But in full disclosure, I have to
admit that our desire to have more of Solomon's love and respect, did
have some minor influence in our decision. After all, he is as God is
to us, which God has said. And he's a very likable man." I sighed, and
John said, "Did he give you any gifts for this?" Paolo said, "Yes he
did give us gifts, and offered more, after our decision. Unexpected,
actually. You know he wouldn't have done that to persuade us. Would you
like to see a recording of his recent meetings with us on this topic?"
He said, "Oh Wow! Yes we would! After this break." Off air, control
room said, "All set for direct feed." I said, "Going to be an eye
opener." Paolo said, "Definitely!" Our grins further unsettled the
staff. I played the decision meeting, without the included camp action
recording. Then a break. Then I played the delivery and contact
meeting. Paolo said, "Better than we can say it here, you now know how
it happened. Some of our Cardinals would like to comment here, if you
permit. Solomon would port." It happened, and they did very well.
Back from break, John said, "So Paul really did see Jesus!" I said,
"It wasn't exactly seeing, but even non believers should have seen that
something like it had to have happened. Nothing else could explain how
Paul became such a fanatical convert in the middle of nowhere." He said
to Paolo, "Do you object to the fanatical characterization of Paul?"
Paolo said, "Based on current definitions of the word, he WAS
fanatical. Zealously so." I said, "Took some convincing for the
Disciples to go along with what he did, when they finally met." Paolo
said, "Will you publish that meeting?" I said, "Sure, if requested.
Going to be interesting." He grinned, and said, "Please. I request it.
And Paul's life. Peter's, too." I said, "Peter is going to have some
problems. Some of his actions and expressed attitudes would require a
foundation in private matters, to be even minimally understood. And
that would involve Jesus. There were a lot of side issues in the
relationships between the Disciples, and with Jesus. Some,
contentious." John said, "Any sexual issues?" I said, "There are always
sexual issues in relationships, even if they aren't overt or
understood. You might have noticed some of that from what my father er,
shared." He nodded, and said, "Yes. Did Jesus have a child?" I said, "A
virgin birth is unusual enough, but a man doing that?" Paolo laughed,
and said, "I love his humor!" I nodded my thanks to him.
I said, "I prefer to have the files say what happened and didn't
happen." He said, "Are any descendants living today?" I said, "Did you
think that would actually work?" He caught Paolo grinning, and said, "I
guess not. Would you publish the complete genome of Jesus?" I looked at
Paolo, and he nodded. I said, "Yes, I'll do that." He said, "Do you
know what all the genes do?" I said, "Does God know?" He said, "Oh!
Right. You do know." I said, "And I'm not going to preempt scientific
discovery." He said, "You could patent the genes." I said, "No I
"What's patented is how to identify them, and what processes you can
use on and with them, such as transplanting them. New created genes,
and the new modified lifeforms can be patented." He said, "Oh. I think
we're out of time. Thank you Solomon and Your Eminence, for being with
us today." We said together, "You're welcome." Grins. Off air, I said,
"This might change how people think of us, a little." Paolo laughed,
and said, "About me, more than a little, and not just for asking for
the life." I said, "Going to be interesting. Sure you want Peter?" He
said, "Privately?" I said, "Oh, not that again!" He had to laugh.
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