The Dr Seuss Gospels

by Jim Farrell

Old Testament pages were spooky and gory,

The poetry was pretty, but I cringed at the story.

People who screwed up weren't slapped or demoted.. they were thoroughly, utterly, brutally, smoted!

Smoted for sins that weren't all that noteable.

I thought to myself, “I'm just as smotable.

Surely as smotable as any of these thoroughly smoted, corrupted smotees!"

I grew disillusioned, befuddled, concerned about how many smotes I had already earned.

I vowed to start living way under the covers - not swearing, or lying, or taking on lovers.

I obsessed over thoughts of a smote-filled hereafter

and I longed for some hope, some magic, some laughter.

I felt like my future was lodged in a noose!

Then I found some relief... in the good Dr. Seuss.

I remembered that Horton was generous and faithful,

in spite of a few basic inherent flaws,

and the greedy green Grinch still found redemption, even after he sabotaged Santa Claus!

And when the prodigal Cat in the Hat came back - he was forgiven - without any flack.

I threw off the covers, I poked out my head, I picked up a Seuss book and carefully read.

I realized I couldn't remain a recluse and follow the Gospel according to Seuss!

A heart can't forgive, a heart can't repair, until the will to forgive lives there.

Forgiveness is final, forgiveness is free, forgiveness is simple - it's never obtuse!

Forgiveness is human, forgiveness is hopeful - it's all in the Gospel according to Seuss!