♦Welcome to another edition of the Open Book Blog Hop!♦
Topic #139
If a genie magically appeared, what would you wish for?
(Just remember, no wishing for more wishes!)
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Where do I even start with a question like that? Stories warn us against falling for this trap, should you be faced with the opportunity. The Jinn are a demonic race of spirits in ancient Arabic folklore. They have no interest in being of help to humanity. The word has become synonymous with all kinds of spiritual beings, including angels and demons. There is a school that feels they are pagan deities who were shoved aside when other religions moved in.
Regardless of the origins of the genie, their wish fulfillment is problematic. Most of the stories teach that you must be quite careful what you ask for, because it will turn around and bite you. Those stories almost always have a thread of greed and desire to rise above one’s station. Isn’t that interesting, especially in today’s society where we witness the top earning percent crush others to maintain their power. It’s a nice parable, to warn of the dangers of wealth and status—considering that most scholars came from wealth and power, because, traditionally, no one else could obtain education.
But, that still leaves us with the conundrum of what will come of the wish. It may be that the entity is completely malevolent, and that the scholars were being altruistic out of personal experience. Not everyone who comes from money learns to be a sociopath (although the culture in which we are raised almost always dictates how we will be socialized and thus view others). So, how do you proceed? We’re caught in the proverbial Catch-22.
I believe that no matter how you proceed in life, you will find difficulty, because that is the world in which we live. To appreciate the great good we have, we often have to be balanced with enough suffering. Certainly, we think that we see individuals getting away with being deliriously happy, and no ill touches them. But, do we really know that for certain? We cannot be in their lives at all times, and many keep things to themselves.
I guess I would ask to legitimately earn a boodle of money, so that I can do all the good I have been hoping to do in the world. I’d have to really consider the amount. Of course I want a home for me and my daughter. I still want to work, and would definitely keep writing. The bills paid and my conscience clear, I’d start investing and donating. I’ve also dreamed of having a sanctuary for my mountain lions and wolves.
No matter what I do, I am sure that suffering would still find me. Money can and does bring new challenges.
Let’s hop on over to see what the other authors bought…
Sometimes I look at the faces of people who have lots of money, and they don’t really look happy at all.
Like the Beatles sang, “Can’t buy me love, no…” The Native Americans say that whites have a sickness of greed. They are hollow, and will not be able to fill that void, but they try to with owning/buying thing, making money. People with or without money, I think, can have this. Working at a hotel in my hometown (which is a resort for the wealthy), I got to see what you’re talking about up close. I have to say, there is something so off about a lot of them. At times, I was downright scared.
Maybe the trick to genies is moderation. Ask for just enough and not too much.
I think they are like us in many ways–doling out punishment and reward as they see fit. It is flawed, perhaps, or they see clearly the heart of the requestor. Perhaps that is why, in Middle Eastern Foklore, they are seen as both angels and demons. LOL that made me think of the film Hellraiser.