Pure magic! While listening to the book “Bob Dylan: A Spiritual Life” by Scott Marshall I passed a street sign in rural Ohio “Zimmerman Ave.” Bob Dylan’s birth name. I’ve passed that street frequently over the last five years and never noticed it. Yet on that very day while Zimmy was on my mind, something instinctually moved my eyes just in time to notice the street with his very name.
A few days later I was checking into a hotel and the man next to me was doing the same, when they asked him his last name, it was Zimmerman. My head instinctively snapped in his direction; excitement arose within me to talk about Bob. But I read the room and looked at this young stranger and thought otherwise.
Then, while watching my beloved TCM that same evening, a movie I had never seen before came on as I sat down to relax from the day, it was “The King of Comedy” written by Paul “Zimmerman.” If that’s not kooky enough, Dylan wrote a song about Lenny Bruce, a comedian and social critic from the 1960s who is “known for his open, “free- wheeling” and critical style of comedy that included religion and politics.” For those who don’t know, “Free Wheelin’” is the name of Bob Dylan’s album from 1963 that catapulted his career and includes songs of political and religious nature.
Isn’t it even more interesting that the movie, “The King of Comedy,” is about the extreme behavior of fans toward celebrities. The history of Dylan fans has been intense at the very least, some border extremism, and the rest of us are merely obsessed. In the movie, the celebrity comedian is kidnapped by two fans to get his spot on the nightly TV show. I would never kidnap Bobby D., but when I read Bob Dylan was a part of a Bible study, I would do anything to be a part of that small group discussion. Or just a conversation over coffee, or a walk through Greenwich Village, or sitting on the Pacific Coast just conversing about scripture and divine experiences.
What makes this more than serendipitous is recently I’ve been wondering about various cultural spiritual practices. I’ve always been highly respectful of the Indigenous peoples, even more so after reading “Braiding Sweetgrass” by Robin Wall Kimmerer. Another recent book I read was “Awakening Your Ikigai” by Ken Mogi which is a Japanese way of making the most of each day and becoming your authentic self. Both cultures believe in many Gods. I agree with and live by the teaching of Buddha, Jesus, and the Great Spirit. Yet, which is the correct path for me, and is there only one?
Pondering and asking God during our ongoing conversation, who or what divine entity should I focus on? I wondered about it, thought about it, but not in a hard pressing seek mode. It was sort of lurking in my thoughts and following me around.
