Parking Lines

 

When I go to cardiac rehab it is 5:45 am.  Well, that is if I am on time.  I park in the same parking lot all the time (so that I can find my car afterwards).  But since it is dark it is hard to see the faint lines to park straight.  I usually get out of the car and check the lines a couple of times.  After all, I am a rules-keeper.  Some might say that I am OCD.  But many drivers are not, and those drivers don’t park between the lines.  And it makes it difficult for those of us who do.  So, regardless of how the non-rule-followers park, I park in the lines.  But on this particular morning, my OCD caused me a little problem.  The big pickup on the one side and the SUV on the other side crowded me and I had to squeeze to get my car door open and wriggle out of my car.  But, I was squarely between the lines.  I felt rather smug with my clever parking job.  I could just see the pickup driver and SUV driver’s faces as they had to wriggle to get into their cars, which were not parked between the lines.  But when I got back to my car after cardiac rehab an hour later, the pickup and the SUV were just where I had left them.  And it was me that had to wriggle back into my neatly parked car.  When it was all over, the other drivers learned no lesson at all, and I was the one who wriggled in and out of the car door.  My take-away lesson: I can’t help anyone but myself. I Thessalonians 4:11, "And that ye study to be quiet, and to do your own business, and to work with your own hands, as we commanded you …”  My job is me and your job is you.  It is my responsibility to take care of myself, and it is your responsibility to take care of yourself.  So much for my OCD.

Bully Gerald Whitely Sr.

 

i am thankful for my dad today. my name is the same as his, except that mine has Junior on the end and his had Senior on the end. When I was born, my dad was so proud of me that he gave me his name. Today I am thankful for my dad, and today I miss him.

Memories

 

Today, I’m missing an old friend, so excuse me for being a bit melancholy.  Actually, we’ve been friends from the day that I was born.  It’s the mole on my back.  Last month when I went to the dermatologist, I told her that the mole in the middle of my back was itching me and I wanted to schedule surgery to remove it.  She said, “I can do it right now, if you like.”  I was pleasantly surprised and within 3 minutes it was gone.  I was left with a Band-Aid in its place.  It took 2 weeks for the wound to heal.  The scab came off in the shower yesterday.  For obvious reasons, I won’t show you a picture of my mole scar.  R.I.P.  Have you ever had a besetting sin that has plagued you for years upon end?  You have tried to overcome this evil, but you haven’t been able to beat it back.  Hey, maybe it’s time to give up and let the dear Lord have it!  Galatians 5:16, "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh."  When your flesh is in conflict with the Spirit of God, it’s time to surrender your will to the Holy Spirit.  Only God can overcome your sins.  The best plan of action is to give your problems over to the Lord.  He can surgically remove them!  Try Jesus.  He will not disappoint you!

B B Gun

 

Five years ago, I bought my grandson a B.B. gun.  His parents were not too thrilled with me, but I didn’t care; I didn’t buy it for them.  But the gun had to stay at my house.  My only rule was that Bennett couldn’t shoot my birds that eat at my bird feeder.  But we have killed many a tin can.  We shoot holes in apples and plastic bottles and you-name-it.  I bought Bennett that B.B. gun because I remember all of the fun times that I had when I was a boy with my B.B. gun.  And I remember the warnings that my dad gave to me.  I remember my B.B. gun locked up for two weeks after an infraction.  But that’s how I learned.  Why is it that boys are drawn to dangerous things?  I think it’s in our DNA.  Hey, do you like to take risks?  Or do you like to play it safe?  I think that there is a risk-taking streak in all of us.  Jesus asked Simon Peter to take a risk one day on the sea of Galilee.  Luke 5:4, “Now when he (Jesus) had left speaking, he said unto Simon, Launch out into the deep, and let down your nets for a draught.”  Peter had fished all night and had caught nothing and was doubtful, but he obeyed. Peter took a risk, and caught the biggest catch of fish of his life!  Hey, are you willing to take a chance on Jesus?  Are you willing to step out by faith and trust Jesus?  Remember, He will NEVER let you down.  Trust Jesus; you’ll never be sorry that you did.