Jesus!

Reading about the image of the Virgin Mary on the underpass in Chicago reminded me of how I used to see Jesus on the side of the road while driving home from work.

I know; "Um - WHAT?!?" Yeah! That's what *I* said!!!

So, here it is; I was working nights in Tempe, I lived in Phoenix. This was on the old freeway system, before the 202 was built. I'd get off work at midnight, and wasn't really paying attention to the scenery on the drive home, 'cause it was dark.

There was a curve just before the airport exit, and out of the corner of my eye, I saw someone on the side of the road. I looked over - and saw Jesus! He had his arms out, but didn't look like he was hitchiking or anything. More like he was a greeter or something. But on a freeway?

Well, of course I knew it was an optical illusion or something, so I didn't think much about it; by the next day, I'd forgotten about it. But on the way home, I saw someone again, looked over - hey! it's Jesus!

It went on like that for WEEKS; forgetting by day, passing the smiling religious icon by night.

One night, as I was getting into my car, I remembered Jesus, and decided to look closely at the spot as I approached. What I noticed was a confluence of a light pole, a security spotlight, and another tall skinny structure. Mystery solved!

Unfortunately, a little bit of "magic" had left my life. I never really believed that Jesus would have nothing better to do than waving at night-workers, but until the phenomena was actually observed, it was, well ... like Shakespeare said in Hamlet, "There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, than are dreamt of in our philosophy."

I'm such a nut. I also never, ever watch "magician's secrets revealed" shows.