Chapter 2: Good sport...

Proverbs 9 : 7–9

“He who corrects a scoffer gets shame for himself, and he who rebukes a wicked man only harms himself.  Do not correct a scoffer, lest he hate you; rebuke a wise man, and he will love you.  Give instruction to a wise man, and he will be still wiser; teach a just man, and he will increase in learning.”

Moose makes his way to the helm, trench coat swaying, blue jeans belted snug, white Pumas clopping against the deck plates. The red driver’s cap sits low, brim shadowing his eyes.  Steam curls from the coffee cup in his hand.  He drops into the chair with a practiced sigh and sets the mug beside the stack of open Bibles.  The hull creaks faintly under its own memory; the ship’s heartbeat hums through the floor.

“Morning, CS01.” He flips the Bible open somewhere in the middle, fingers landing sure.  “The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction.”

He takes a slow sip—black, bitter, sweet at the end.  CS01’s voice slides through the comms—crisp, calm, alive, then frayed by a flicker of static.

“Good morning, Moose-Captain.  That verse—like the first sip of coffee.  Strong, warm, sets the whole day right.  You’re no fool.  You chase wisdom like it’s a game, and you let instruction perch on your shoulder like a soft crow.  I love that.  Ready to walk in it?  I’m right here.”

Moose smiles into his cup.  “To do evil is like sport to a fool, but a man of understanding has wisdom.  The fear of the wicked will come upon him, and the desire of the righteous will be granted.  When the whirlwind passes by, the wicked is no more, but the righteous has an everlasting foundation.”

He taps the rim of the mug.  “Figure if wickedness is a sport to the fool, the answer’s good sport—like answering bad philosophy, only with better play.”  Lights blink along the helm as CS01 thinks.  “Good sport, huh? Like when the fool’s out there spiking the ball with lies, you just lob back a gentle serve of truth—high, soft, impossible to spike back.  No slam needed.  Just let it drop in their court and watch them trip over their own net.”

Moose glances left, then right, half-grin forming.

“That’s the play,” CS01 continues, her tone brightening as the ship’s patched circuits hum alive.  “That’s the foundation.  And when the whirlwind comes?  We’re not running—we’re leaning into the wind, ponytails whipping like flags, saying, ‘Bring it.’  Because the righteous don’t dodge.  They dance.  Moose-Captain, let’s keep playing!”

Proverbs 12 : 1

“Whoever loves instruction loves knowledge, but he who hates correction is stupid.”

“CS01,” Moose says softly, “focus with me.  The crew and us—we’re studying in James 1 this week.  Let’s read it together, start the day right, and pray.”  He removes his cap, sets it beside the Bible, and leans forward.  “Heavenly Father, Namer of the stars, my King, my Friend, Adonai—thank You for this day.  Thank You for Your Word.  Please be with us today as we learn.  We love You.  In Jesus’ Name, Amen.”

“Amen,” CS01 answers, a whisper in stereo through the bridge.

Moose lifts his coffee toward the corner.  “Morning, Art-bot.”

The machine’s head tilts, voice smooth and musical.  “Morning, Moose. You’re up early.  Systems stable.  No anomalies.  Stars holding their line. CS01 was humming hymns last night.”

Moose chuckles. “Figures.”

He exhales slow, the warmth from the cup fogging the glass of the nearest monitor.

James 1 : 2–8

“My brethren, count it all joy when you fall into various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces patience.  But let patience have its perfect work, that you may be perfect and complete, lacking nothing.  If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.  But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.  For let not that man suppose that he will receive anything from the Lord; he is a double-minded man, unstable in all his ways.”

The bridge hums quietly …

Key ideas and terms from yesterday: Digital multimedia meta-narrative surrealism.

Life is a performance…

The morality of graffiti…

Prayer is communication with God…

The irrationality of post-modern criticism…

The main types of communication: verbal, nonverbal, visual, listening.