When God finally returned to Earth He appeared first in Rome, but wasn’t well received there, at all, wandering around the Basilica, and the Vatican amidst all of the security details about checking people’s passports and papers.  So, He left Rome and decided He’d take a walk across the Mediterranean Sea to Israel, instead.  He marched right up to that ancient shore and sighed because this had been His home for 33 years last time around, even if it hadn’t gone entirely well.  And, standing there before his native nation of Israel, He realized that Israel was his true center of the universe. 

            He took his time crossing the sea, so many days deep in thought he lost count.  The last time He was born an everyman rabbi and teacher who taught children the Bible, reading and writing, adding and subtracting, eating Kosher, and the ways of God.  Be like God, His message said.  This time, He would take a different tact.  2000 years in the wilderness of deep space had taught him a thing or two.  He learned patience befitting a God, for one thing, and the wisdom of old age. 

            He viewed the beach line from a wave’s crest during high tide in a rising sea while waiting for His people to arrive and congregate.  And, they did, too, Muslims, Christians and Jews.  They showed up in droves, traveling overland on foot, skateboard, scooter, car, boat, train, motorcycle, golf cart, helicopter, and plane.  This time He had a plan.  He would not be denied. 

            The sea spray cast a royal blue halo around Him and made Him look as if He had been delivered to their shores by the ocean itself, not unlike Venus appearing on a half shell.  The sea was loud and green that morning, the waves smacked the shore.  The winds caromed in off the sky painting the day with a cool minted sea breeze to refresh and welcome the coming hoard.  The sky weighed heavy from packed thick cumulous clouds rich in smoke and thunder and allowing the sun to beam down in broken shafts of light showing Him in her glorious, magnificent light, dramatic and majestic for the King He was. 

            As the throngs of people gathered on the beach they stood watching Him in awe, for He appeared in the likeness of every man, woman, child, bird and beast who gazed upon Him.  How clever His gesture.  So great was Almighty God, because all eyes are the eyes of God.  The sea foam around Him lit bright as fire radiating from the sun. 

            There was music booming from nowhere anyone could determine, the brass joyful trumpet sounds of Louie Prima and Gabrielle together playing duets and raising spirits.  Angels joined in. 

            And then, the Heavens quieted and God spoke.   “I am here to say how much God loves you, and to assure you that life exists only here on earth and nowhere else in the universe.  For you are the life.  You.  Each one of you, young and old, red, yellow, green, gold, black and white alike.   Despite the five trillion galaxies in the universe, each one with their billions of stars, and gazillion planets and moons that circle them.  Life as you know it and experience every day exists here on earth and no place else.  And, that’s the truth.  There’s nothing out there, so don’t waste your time looking and searching for something that does not exist.  Don’t bother.  Believe me, this is the life, right here.  This is it.  The rest of the universe is nothing but endless empty barren desert space, inhabited by fire, gas and dust, my new home.  Earth has been my greatest experiment.  If you do well I may consider expanding to another planet.  But, until then there is only one earth, one home.  So, love thy neighbor, honor thyself and take good care.  Thank you for your time.”

            No one believed a word He said.  They liked how He looked like each one of them all at the same time, and wondered how he pulled that off.  They thought the whole visual presentation was impressive, standing on a wave, holding that position despite the movements of the sea, the halo of sea spray, and the magnificent light shafts from the sun like stage lights.  But, no one cared much for the message.  Instead, the crowd moved anxiously about not knowing what to think.  Was he for real?  Because life was about life, not fire and dust.  And, who cared about the truth?  They wanted redemption.  No one bought the part about being alone for a second, though many worked hard and struggled to do their best.   

            And then, like an evaporating rainbow in a dewy lit sky left behind from a storm, He disappeared and was gone.  The music stopped playing and the crowds broke up.  Everyone went home feeling uneasy with God back, if that was indeed God.  He’d have to show them more than that.  What about immortality?  He never said a word about saving souls, life after death, or eternity in heaven.  And, many of His followers and non-followers alike, pondered and thought, “What kind of God is that?” 

            And, God thought, “What kind of children have I given rise to?  They don’t believe me.  But, they will be talking about this one for years.” 

            God didn’t own a TV, never watched the news, and didn’t care.  He had his own problems.  He actually had many earths, billions of them, in fact, and none of them doing all that well.  So many problems.  So many worlds.  So many mouths to feed and rooms to furnish.  What’s a God to do?  Live and learn was giving God gray hair.  You want the truth, ask Mother Nature.

            And, God never said, but thought, “Maybe, I’ll add another life form.  Still, look how they have multiplied.”