The Yeti\’s Cyber Smithy

Unlike most Renaissance Fairs, the Kentucky Highlander Renaissance fair has two blacksmiths. I am blessed to be one of those folk. So blessed that my wife and I have built and continue to improve our dream smithy there. The other blacksmith is a man by the name of Tony.

Renaissance Fair blacksmiths are a bit different than most blacksmiths in that we have to wear an extra hat.

The same is true of other artisan / crafters at Renaissance Fairs. At arts and crafts show, the artisan / crafter has to be both creator and sales person, both artisan and merchant. But at Renaissance Fairs and similar venues with other themes, we are performers. Each of us is not only an artisan and merchant, but each is also a character and let me tell you, Tony is one heck of a character. In fact, like the TV show stars that young children idolize I think I want to be him when I grow up.

Chances are I say that because of my Dirty Laundry Theory. I am sure Tony and his wife would be happy to know that I don’t want to date him, but I have to mention that my Dirty Laundry Theory was formed while dating. It goes something like this, when you date someone you do not see their dirty laundry. When things become serious and you start to relax around that person, things are different. They get to see your dirty laundry, the flaws that we all have. At some point, someone else might catch your eye and you start to think that the other person might be a better partner. Why? Well, you haven’t seen their dirty laundry, you don’t know what their flaws are. So I am realistic in knowing that I am sure Tony has some dirty laundry, some flaws, that I am not seeing but I don’t want to see it because I need heroes in my life even if they don’t know they are my heroes.

So, if I am posting this to a public blog why would I think Tony would remain unaware of my admiration? Well, Tony is Christian and I am, for lack of a better word, Pagan. This here blog is maintained at a Pagan web service and most of the people who frequent this blog are folk who found it after reading one of my books on, yep you guessed it, paganism and related topics. The thing is, unlike the conduct of many people I have observed within the pagan community, I am not much of a separatist. I do think humanity is in desperate need of salvation, but I think there are different saviors for different needs. I am not sure Tony feels the same way, but that’s OK because not only do I translate well, I can admire a man who might not admire me.

My admiration for the man isn’t based on objectification. While he is skilled, my respect is not based on his creations. In fact, I do not base my praise on Tony as a man. My respect is more for Tony as a husband. My wife and I have two young children. As a result, I tend to do the shows without my wife. We did try to bring the kids along last season, but after a couple of absolutely miserable weekends we gave up and I tended things alone. The kids, especially our infant son, just weren’t happy and they let us know it. Tony, on the other hand, is there every weekend with his wife.

I do not know if I can put into words what I see when he and his wife interact. Yes, it is love but it is also a level of calm respect that I do not often see in a mans eyes. At the show, he has a portfolio of sorts. A collection of photographs that demonstrate a wide range of skill and talent which can be easily translated into custom work. I have rarely seen a customer in his booth while his wife did not have that book in her hands and a sense of utter pride in her eyes. Without a word, she screams I am proud of my husband, let me show you why. All the while, Tony continues to tend his forge.

Now maybe it sounds like what I am really praising is his marriage. I am not. My wife and I are very close and when our lives allow her to be at the shows with me, she has just as much pride and love for her husband. But I think it takes a bit more work on behalf of my wife. I get the distinct impression that Tony is an easier man to love than I & I suspect some of that love comes from Jesus Christ, his savior. A savior I have yet to discover by that or any name, but I do think I am getting closer.

Tony’s character at the Kentucky Renaissance Fair can be described as a Viking Blacksmith. Not that he has a horned helmet, which by the way neither did Vikings. But because of the symbolism on his leather apron and around his neck are stylized versions of Thor’s Hammer. It was that symbol of heathen faith that caused me to inquire discretely. He informed me that no, he was not a follower of Thor, not an Asatruman or other heathen, that he was in fact Christian. Why then, I asked, would he wear the symbols of those faiths? It’s a costume he answered. At first I was kind of shocked, but then the truth started to sink in. It was all around me. The people dressed like monks, they weren’t really monks. Why on earth would I think the Viking blacksmith was really a Viking. I felt kind of silly, but it did start an interesting conversation.

I am sure Tony knew I was something other than Christian, but he had always been warm and friendly to me without ever mentioning his religion or attempting to convert me. When his wife found out I was a diabetic, she offered good advice on the subject. As I recall, she works in the field of medicine. Why then, I wondered and asked, they do not wear a symbol of their faith. I added that I have observed there is a growing dislike of Christians because it seems like the ones who give them a bad name are very visible while the truly good people go unnoticed.

He told me that since we had met, he had been witnessing to me. I do not think he used that specific term. But a light went on over my head. In the Bagadavita, there is the statement that one of the ways to break free from the cycle of reincarnation, to rise to a higher existence, is to chant the name of god with every breath. In many religions, it is forbidden to speak the name of god. Could it be that these two concepts could co-exist? I think so.

I think that speaking or writing the name of god is limiting. You might be aware there is an ancient belief that knowing the name of a thing give you power over it. In Tony’s months of witnessing to me without using the name Jesus, I think I have discovered something, which is so profound, it might be the salvation of humanity. The name of god is not something that a person can speak or write down. If one attempts such, crusades will be fought and airplanes will be flown into buildings. But doing so is not just a bad idea, it is impossible to actually do.

When the Bagadavita tells the reader that they should chant the name of god with every breath, I do not believe it is instructing to actually chant the name of god. If it were, then the many Krishna Ashrams which operate food pantries and other public services would be wasting their time. I believe what is being said is that one must do the name of god. One must become god so that when people want to describe god, they can point to you. What is Jesus like? I think he is like Tony.

Yes, I know Jesus was a carpenter and Tony is a blacksmith (sorry couldn’t resist that one) and I know that some people, maybe even Tony, will think it blasphemous to call a simple human being Jesus, but please consider this;

How many people have utter hatred for Jesus Christ because they think he is like Rev. Fred Phelps?

This is why I have such respect for my fellow blacksmith, Tony. Because whatever name you choose to give to god, he thinks it is more important that he lives that name of god rather than speak it. This is why I have so much respect for Rasa, the woman who has mentored me in the Bagadavita, because she thinks it is more important that she live the name of god rather than speak it.

I aspire to do just that and do not particularly care what name is ascribed to that which I seek to chant with every breath. I think if the rest of humanity could meet Tony, Rasa and the other’s who live the name of god rather than speak it the world would be a much better place.