As Crazy As the Wheels of Ezekiel

Listening to Dan's new album and the song called "Pennsylvania" sent me back to its inspiration in the Book of Ezekiel, which is a kind of byword in our house: "as crazy as the wheels of Ezekiel" we say about things especially nutty. At one point God tells Ezekiel he has to eat bread baked on human dung. And then--this is my favorite part--there is negotiation. Ezekiel says he's never eaten any carrion or unclean thing. And God relents and says, "okay, you can use cow dung. But you have to shave off your hair and beard." God may be willing to talk, but he always negotiates from a position of strength.