“Oh, Elisha, dare you lift yourself unto me?”—heard in a November 1987 mediation
Elisha was an ancient Jewish prophet. He served under Elijah, one of the Jewish traditions most famous, and murderous, prophets. Elijah was swept up into the heaven by a tornado at the end of his life, which has been interpretted that he never died.
Elisha had studied under Elijah for many years, and when Elijah was swept up into the heavens, Elijah left behind his “mantle”, which was equivalent to a coat, or a cape, but in spiriitual terms, it also meant his spiritual understanding.
When his Master has ascended, Elisha had a choice:
Pick up the cape, and carry on Elijahs’s understanding and teachings, or walk away.
Elisha picked up the cape, and wore it as if it were his own.
Elisha went on to be quite the miracle worker, and, at time, the healer. His most famous healing was when he laid his body over a deceased lad twice, pressed his lips against the boy, and then brought him back to life. In modern understanding, it has been guessed that Elisha may well have performed CPR on the lad, to great success.
After Elisha’s passing, he was placed in a grave. Once, a fallen warrior’s body was thrown onto Elishas’ grave, or skeleton, depending on the translation.
The warrior came back to life!
I am not a biblical scholar, though I have read the bible several times as a younger person. I cannot even hardly open the book anymore, though I remain inspired by several passages that I memorized many years before.
Elisha did not have adoring crowds. Elisha did not write books. Elisha never got married. Elisha never had any children. Elisha was never regarded as quite the same prophet as his master, Elijah.
Yet, Elisha was the name I heard, when I touched the “face of God” during a profound meditation.
Elisha is my spiritual name, and, for that, I am not ashamed.
Like Elisha, I have, and will continue to live, a life of anonymity, with no fame or fortune.
Oh Elisha, dare you lift yourself unto me?
FUCK YES, GOD!
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