Friday, December 26, 2014

The Homely Bow-Legged God Bes


The Egyptian god Bes was not the most beautiful of the gods. He was short and bow-legged. He had a head that was part human and part lion. But this homely god was greatly loved. His images can be found everywhere throughout Egypt and the surrounding lands. Amulets dedicated to him are countless. He protected children and households and women in childbirth. He chased off the nasty and the bad. He did this not with great power, but by ridicule and laughter. This little bow-legged god teaches us sometimes the only way to deal with nastiness is with laughter. When the Westboro Baptist church arrives to protest the funeral of a child or a rock concert people with signs saying “God Hates Chocolate” or “God Hates Kitties” or “I Have a Sign” have always been the best response. Mark Twain said, “Laughter is the greatest weapon we have.

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