Holes

 

I have a drawer in my dresser in the bedroom that I have designated, “work clothes.”  I could just as easily called it “comfortable clothes”, but “work clothes” will do.  I have t-shirts on the left and jeans on the right.  So, today, I got down a little deeper into my stack of jeans than I have in a while.  Getting a little behind in doing the laundry.  The pair that I put on had a hole in the leg just above the knee.  My first thought was, “I need to sew up this hole.”  But then I remembered that holes are in style.  Actually, many folk buy jeans that come pre-holed.  Is that even a word?!  It is now!  So, instead of being embarrassed, I should feel chic.  Hey, in today’s culture things are upside down.  Today, behaving as you should is often mocked, while behaving risqué is in style.  Paul said in Romans 14:16, “Let not then your good be evil spoken of.”  Don’t be afraid of doing the right thing with the right intentions.  Don’t try to fit into the counter-culture; fit into God’s culture.  After all, pleasing God is its own reward.

Dangerous Crosswalk

 

I go to cardiac rehab at CHI MWF at 6 am.  Yikes!  As I am rolling in, many nurses are coming into work, and when I finish about 7:30 am, many of the staff are getting off their shift.  So, I encounter many good people going to and from the building, I in my car and them on foot.  And I am careful at the crosswalks to yield the right of way.  It is bad form to run over someone whose services you might need later.  I’m just sayin’.  But I’ve noticed that the pedestrians are cautious as they approach the crosswalk.  I blink my headlights to let them know that I see them waiting to screw up their courage to step out onto that dangerous roadway.  And it is dangerous, as the crosswalk sign pictured here will attest to.  The crosswalk sign may have been crushed, but hopefully, a crosser was not.  I’m glad that we do not have to be fearful as we approach God.  Paul said in II Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”  The writer of Hebrews (probably Paul) went on to say in Hebrews 4:16, “Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need.”  Hey, don’t hesitate today; boldly ask the dear Lord for your needs.  He is ready and willing to answer.  Yes, He is!

Sleepy

 

The summer of 1969 I worked at Bata Shoe Company on Belcamp, Maryland.  My Uncle Damon got me the job.  Bata had two shifts of eight hours each with a half hour for lunch.  That left only seven hours for third shift (my shift).  In order to get forty hours in, third shift had to work twelve hours Sunday night starting at eight and ending Monday morning at eight.  Since Monday was my first shift of the week, and twelve hours long, Monday morning I was washed out.  I had a six-mile drive home and could barely make it without falling asleep.  In fact, one Monday, I just couldn’t make it.  I had the window rolled down with my face in the wind, but just couldn’t stay awake.  I pulled over and slept for an hour - three miles from home!  And I’m glad that I did.  Driving drowsy is as bad as driving under the influence.  David said in Psalm 4:8, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety.”  I was afraid of falling asleep at the wheel.  And thank the dear Lord that I was able to think clearly enough to pull over and get a little nap.  Hey, don’t take chances in life.  Don’t take chances driving and don’t take chances with your eternal soul.  Don’t risk entering eternity unprepared.  Trust in Jesus while you can.