“Progress may be the greatest distraction from living”

I’ve alway heard the term plain clothes but never understood it till I saw the way he dressed. He had the confidence of a man who could care less. A smile that couldn’t help but smirk and a laugh that made you feel in on it.

Jack had been around the block without the years to show for it. Now he sat with his feet up on a box and his left arm hanging. He was way too young to be handing out life advice, yet everyone was listening. “The idea is quite simple. If you take things to their logical conclusion that’s where you end up. G-D or no G-D science is going to make peace between your ears. Levitate your butt on the clouds. Cure sickness, put happiness in a pill, and make life easy.”

The room erupted.

It was clearly not the first time Jack had mentioned this. Some of the responses where not even directed toward him. “What are you trying to say?” That question got everyone quiet.

After a good 3 sec count Jack responded “I like to think of it as the secular Messiah. It’s this idea that all the goodies promised in the bible are just a matter of time and good science, no need for G-D.”

At this I was utterly bewildered I mean I just had to ask. “So why are you religious Jack?” He looked at me like I fell off the roof. “I’m not interested in the goodies.” He took a moment “No matter how good science gets we’ll always wonder where our very existence comes from. No amount of logic can get us before the beginning.” He took another drink like no one was waiting for him to finish. “You see? The Messiah isn’t just to cure us. It’s supposed to free us of the ultimate question. Giving us the answer that leaves no more questions. The Messianic era is where we meet our maker. Everything else is a distraction.” This time Bob spoke up “so you think all those goodies are a distraction. Like world peace, no pain, and no hunger?”

There was that smirk, of all the moments… “Yes.”

Tim chimes in “Though a true pursuit of that answer will probably solve most of the worlds great concerns anyway.”

“Maybe. Listen hunger sucks, but ego is worse. I’ve seen some people starve holding a black credit card because someone told them the camera adds 10 pounds.” Jack laughs at this.

“You know religions have been the source of most of humanities pain right? Personally I’d take the blue pill.” Sighing to emphasize my point.

“Nazzi’s and Communists had nothing to do with G-D. You pill popping activist.” Still smirking he picks up his note book. “Anyway I got to get to the conference room for our 3 oclock. Bob you ready?”

As Bob and Jack walked into the hallway the back of their shirts receding into the distance. A thought occurred to me.

Some people love to love Jack and some people love to hate him. Personally I hate that I hate him.