My Friend God

It was a madcap foot race. Only a quarter of a mile in distance, but the obstacles were formidable. Three Japanese half moon bridges, with steps, were the primary problem. The fact that the runners were out of shape executives, secretaries, accountants, and marketing people made the race all the more bizarre.

The idea for the race came from the Swiss cheese mind of Larry Sapper, a young man that can best be described as an egotistical, arrogant ass. Larry, who had inherited the company from his dying father wanted to get rid of all the old timers who had been with the elder Sapper since the beginning. Because of the Equal Rights laws he couldn’t simply fire them all and so he came up with the idea of a race. Whoever won would get first choice of a position in the company and so on down the line. Equal for everyone.

Jack Belson, the central character, is head of accounting for the firm. He is overweight, forty eight years old, and his energy level is practically nil. Feeling that he could easily wind up the janitor after the race, Jack goes to nearby Santa Monica beach and lifting his head to the overhanging clouds calls out to God for help. Much to his surprise, God answers. He gives Jack Belson a manual of life, the seven absolutes of the Kybalion – Mentalism, Correspondence, Polarity, Vibrations, Rhythm, Cause and Effect and Gender. The answer is not exactly to Jacks liking but it does change his life. Inspired, he decides to get in shape for the great race. He meets Maggie Oliver, proprietor of Run for Your Life, a joggers shop located in Venice Beach and soon fall madly in love.

Las Vegas gamblers, on a lark, hear about the race and decide to get involved.

Larry Sapper, in order to insure that his choice wins, adjusts the steps on one of the bridges so that they will flatten into a wall when he uses a remote control device, thereby tripping whoever reaches one of the bridges. The climax is of course the race itself.

The entire novel, humorous and entertaining as it may be is actually a metaphor for the utilization of the principles of the Kybalion. An esoteric slim novel written more than a hundred years ago but more popular today than ever before with millions of enthusiastic supporters. Many of the mysteries of the Kybalion and how to use the 7 principles are clarified as Jack Belson grows from an average, mediocre, shy man to a confident, knowledgeable, assertive person ready to take on and solve all his past problems.