By José Dominguez, September 24, 2020 — Some people had the fortune to be in touch with God, like the Pythia, the super famous fortune-teller from Delphi who spoke with Apollo, son of Zeus. The Greeks, before this era, believed that gods could use their superpowers to pregnant women and give birth to half-gods who were called daemons.
One of those, a positive one, is documented to have spoken with Socrates, not one time, but many times according to Plato’s Apology. So, don’t be surprised if I say that I also have spoken with my dear friend Socrates whenever I want … Ok, ok, he is not a god, nevertheless, me being in touch with him is a high-level communication.
I have known persons that can speak with God, others can be possessed by God, others speak with spirits, others with deaths, and others with angels. I’m going to tell you about some persons that I have met with different stories and about their communication adventures.
Working in my own little store in Ciudad Juarez Mexico, I expended most of my time on the sidewalk in front of the business trying to invite the walkers to buy my merchandise. In such conditions, I was in touch with all kinds of persons among them; beggars, drug dealers, burglars, salespersons, visitors, tourists, customers, police officers, etc. But I kept the memory of one in particular.
It was one summer Saturday morning when a well-dressed young adult, clean and groomed stopped at my store. He asked for some kind of t-shirts and since I noticed a book in his hand, I assumed it was a Bible. I asked him: “Excuse my intromission, are you Christian?”
He was not surprised by my question but, at the same time, was not so eager to speak with me about that. However, he answered me: “Yes, I always read it. What about you?” he replied. I answered: “Well, I have a long list of books to read and the Bible is not included.” “I see, he acknowledged, but since your soul is at stake I advice you to read it.”
After that, I formulated a question, “Since you are worried about the future wellbeing of my soul and you are a permanent reader of the Bible, can you tell me, do you know if your soul is saved and secure?” He responded, “I can give testimony that I am one of the chosen to be with Jesus.” “How come? Have you spoken with Him? Did Jesus assure you that?” I asked him. “I have spoken with him lots of times and continually advises me how to live my life.”
The only thing that I managed to say as a farewell of our brief chat was: “In that case, my favorite spirit with whom I can speak freely is Socrates. He always insists to me that I have to acknowledge my ignorance and question everything and everybody. Since wisdom equals virtue and life is a process and we stop it if we admit that, we have the assurance of knowledge. This assumption will take us to believe that we are wise and virtuous when we aren’t. So, I consider it’s better to be a Socrates dissatisfied than a believer satisfied.” Before leaving he told me: “We read very different books and speak with very different characters”.
Several years later, living in El Paso Texas, Maria and I attended the San Francisco de Assis Catholic Church most frequently. The church community was integrated mostly by people with Mexican roots so we mingled with them very easily. We attended almost every event during the year around.
On one Easter celebration that overlaps with the Catholic Holy Week, our presence in our church was more than natural. The day that I want to relate was a Thursday of Passion; as you can imagine I spent in that place many afternoon hours. By night I was bored. It was too much time involved in so much religious suffering. At the outside of the main church entrance, I noticed the presence of Jesus. He was Sisi’s husband.
Sisi was one of the most active parishioners. She was very close to the priest and leader of several ministries. She was a young wealthy woman, with aristocratic tendencies and a very well look, only a little overweight for my taste. Sisi was a kind of mystic and everyone commented that she very often, and very easily became in a spiritual trance. But let’s go back to Jesus, Sisi’s husband. He was a corpulent rancher from Chihuahua — transparent, positive, and joyful in his interactions. I felt very comfortable joking with him and very soon I was telling him Mexican jokes. Some jokes were of pure humor and others had sexual implications that in those moments and place were more of an inspiration of Satan than a religious way of spending those moments of official sorrow and mourning.
I knew that Sisi didn’t like my interaction with her husband because, according to her, I was a vulgar and unmoral storyteller. Well, I was in the middle of a very spontaneous laughing session with Jesus when she appeared. We were surprised because nobody but was there, at that hour. “Jesus, I was sent here to pray ….. you can invite Mr. Dominguez inside to pray the rosary!” she said with a very unconditional but educated voice. Then I faced her and told her, moved by my curiosity: “Are you going to stay here? It’s night, and there’s nobody.” She looked me straight to the eyes and said, “I was told to pray for all my brothers and sisters in sin.”
I caught the insinuation that she was going to pray for me. I was not grateful for her sublime desire of saving my soul from the eternal fire. However, I wanted to know who sent her. So I told her: “Those souls that will receive the benefit of your prayers are very lucky Sisi, can you tell me who sent you to pray?” She moved her head towards the sky and solemnly said: “ It was an angel of the lord and told me ‘Go outside and pray for those who don’t accept in their hearts our Savior and Lord, pray until you receive a sign from the sky.” We left silently. From that moment I promised to myself: “I will never say to my friend Jesus any sinful joke that jeopardizes his eternal salvation.” And so it was.
I just will tell you that being in trance, or in spiritual possession is a very personal affair. Maybe there’s no probe to convince an agnostic, atheist, or scientific mind about the authenticity of such spiritual experiences. Nevertheless, I have the luxury of inventing my own spiritual story. It happened that in one twilight moment of my life I saw Socrates walking with his hair combed, the robe that covered his body was white and graceful, he wore a pair of sandals that even when not new, were clean, and he was talking and walking at the same time. He was speaking alone, perhaps in a chat with his daemon.
Surprised by the scene, I raised my voice: “Hey Socrates, where are you going so well-groomed and clean?” “Hi Jose, nice to hear from you, I going to Alcibiades’ house. He invited me to a banquet and I decided to take a bath and submit myself to the silly routine of grooming because I don’t want to offend the good taste of the participants who prefer to smell flowers and perfumes. Honestly, my natural odor, which I appreciate so much, will be a public offense and I am not going to spoil the party. I only will tell you my dear Jose, this Socrates, the street philosopher sometimes takes a bath … needed or not needed!”