One summer, I decided to completely renovate a bedroom. After building two closets, I sat on the floor, completely exhausted, and thanked God that I was able to do the job and finish that phase of the work. Just then, my two dogs, Pippin and Frodo, entered, saw me on the floor, and decided to attack. With great urgency and enthusiastic abandon, they kissed every inch of me they could, concentrating on my teeth. When they finished, I found myself completely rejuvenated and completely slimed.

I wonder what kind of world we would have if we kissed each other with great urgency and enthusiastic abandon? The kind of kiss that restores the tired, heals the broken-hearted, and nurtures the spirit?

Perhaps now is the time for us to throw away our masks and regard each other and the earth as God's creation. To set aside our need to dominate, our penchant toward violence. To experience our connections to each other, to God, and to the earth. To admit the sacred. To kiss each other. To bless each other. And to no longer be alone.

The time is now, my friends.

Time to slime.

Copyright 1997 Debra Bruch