Richard is a poet who has AIDS. He and Clarissa Dalloway (a name Richard gave her from Virginia Wolf's novel) were lovers in their youth. Clarriss and Richard continue to love each other though they live in different homes. Clarissa visits Richard daily. She is preparing a party for him. He is to receive an important literary award. The day of the party Clarissa visits him. He says," Can I tell you an embarrassing secret? Something I've never told anyone?"
"Of course you can."
"I thought I was a genius. I actually used that word, privately, to myself."
Well--"
"Oh, pride, pride. I was so wrong. It defeated me. It simple proved insurmountable."
How many of us secretly think we are a "genius" or special, or have some divine in us. Well, we do. The image of God in us tells us that we are made like God. We have glory. But, as Richard, we try to be like God, we worship the image, and we discover that we are also fallen, imperfect beings. Richard eventually throws himself out of a building and dies. The destiny of so many who have not heard that God loves them just as they are.
No comments:
Post a Comment