Baalam and the Truth Telling -- Numbers 22

<p>The story of Balaam is a fantastic tale complete with conversations with God, angels with swords drawn, a seemingly stubborn talking donkey, and a seerer’s blessings and curses. What if anything can we learn from this story about our relationships to God and to one another?</p> <p> In this episode, Liam takes a look at the ways in which we are conditioned to read biblical texts and asks questions about what it means to miss the angel standing in the road, as well as what it means to be a person who beats the truth-tellers among us. More, Liam asks what might it mean to be the talking, truth-telling ass - and to be repeatedly beaten-up for speaking out. </p> <p>After some discussion, Don offers another text for our reflection.</p> <p>It's not the end of the world</p> <p>No, not the end of the world</p> <p>Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire</p> <p>Don't lose hope</p> <p>It's no funeral we're attending</p> <p>Actually, just the beginning</p> <p>Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire</p> <p>Don't lose hope</p> <p>It's not the end of the</p> <p>No, not the end of the world</p> <p>You can catch a star if the sky is falling down</p> <p>There's a golden lining up in every single cloud</p> <p>You can take a frown turn it all the way around</p> <p>All the way around, all the, all the way around</p> <p>A fortune teller told me the power's in your mind</p> <p>You might see a cliff, but I see a way to fly</p> <p>Flipping off the flop, now I just enjoy the ride</p> <p>Just enjoy the world, yeah, I just enjoy the ride</p> <p>what a time</p> <p>to be alive</p> <p>Don't say goodbye</p> <p>It's not the end of the world</p> <p>No, not the end of the world</p> <p>Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire</p> <p>Don't lose hope</p> <p>It's no funeral we're attending</p> <p>Actually, just the beginning</p> <p>Throw on your fancy attire, fears in the fire</p> <p>Don't lose hope</p> <p>It's not the end of the</p> <p>No, not the end of the world</