But God!
These many years later, I still get a lift, a smile, a thrill when I hear the sound of two words:
But God!
While some tremble at the utterance, I imagine Bishop Jakes saying it. "But God!"
I imagine how Billy Graham would've said it. And Bishop Tutu. And Mother Teresa. I imagine a little boy on his knees in Gaza. I imagine a little girl in Israel.
But God!
Whenever I hear it, I feel a surge - a Texas size surge no cork can plug. Yeehaw!
Beauty and brains, they say, are a dangerous mix. Perhaps so. But I think it's awesome.
Beverly had beauty, brains and a purpose-driven life. To top all that, she was the sweetest person you could know, a woman not afraid of ugly.
I was on the verge of 22, a virgin with the world in my hand, fearing neither guns nor bullets, man nor beast, time nor life. And for damn good reasons!
"But!" Elinor said to me, with her finger set before my face like an exclamation point. "God stirs the waters. And when God stirs the waters ..."
Just then my phone rang.
It was as if, by remote control, that little ring had ripped a hole through to the bottom of my gut and all my air dropped out. Zwump! But I sucked it back up. Schwup! Zip!
"Hi, Patti," I said. "What's up? Haven't heard from you since the cow jumped over the moon."
"The phone works both ways, sweetheart. I haven't changed numbers and I haven't moved."
"But God!" I heard Elinor rehearsing aback of me. "Sample it. Swish it around. Swirl it. Then set the sound loose.
But God!"
Based on a gripping true story set at the confluence of three forces - Beverly, Elinor and Neil - just about when God stepped onto the scene. And laughed!
But God!
A RYO Book. Spring Release.
But is a conjunction.
Ain't that somethin'? Truly! But ain't nothin' but a conjunction! Juxtaposition, juxtaposition, juxtaposition!
That's about it!
Okay, occasionally but is a preposition, but don't let its preppiness cloud you: but has stature - a stature way above its physicality, and a punch way more explosive than its musicality, and a reach more penetrating than its cut. Baam. No matter how you slice it or swing it, a but is always a BUT! It cuts.
Hear what I mean.
Listen Softly - Yes, softly!
But God
Holy Orgamagma!
Did you not feel that surge?
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