Standing around the coffee pot Sunday at church conversation turned to the end of the world. This old globe will give it all up on Dec. 21, when a 5,125-year cycle known as the Long Count in the Mayan calendar comes to a close, or so an AP story datelined Moscow reports.
The Russians are given to mystical things and take the Mayan threat seriously. Or some of them do. They are the ones who are buying all the matches, kerosene and candles on store shelves. There will be no natural light come Dec. 22, you see — or, rather, won’t see.
This news was greeted by fellow Presbyterians in two different ways. One thought it a shame that we’d all miss Christmas. Another practical type was glad it would not be necessary to over-spend on presents again.
And a third wondered aloud at the durability of end-of-the-world alarms.
Look on the bright side: no more world equals no more presidential campaigns. Nothing is all bad.
— Emerson Lynn, jr.
