My Ongoing Thoughts

LET IT FLOW, LET IF FLOW, LET IT FLOW…

12/3/2023

As I write this, it is just a little over three weeks until Christmas. And quite predictably, the seasonal music now abounds. One such song goes thusly...

"Oh, the weather outside is frightful,
But the fire is so delightful;
And since we've no place to go,
Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow."

My blog post today is a play on those lyrics. Allow me to explain.

As a child, I had lots of heroes. But few of them compared with a modern day knight named Marion Robert Morrison. Never heard of him? Sure you have; for his stage name was none other than John Wayne.

“The Duke”, as he was widely and affectionately known in the film industry, was undeniably a true American icon. He was the quintessential cowboy, the undisputed king of westerns, and the unrivaled star of many another movie.

According to Wikipedia:

“His career flourished from the silent era of the 1920s through the American New Wave, as he appeared in a total of 179 film and television productions. He was among the top box-office draws for three decades, and appeared with many other important Hollywood stars of his era. In 1999, the American Film Institute selected Wayne as one of the greatest male stars of classic American cinema.”

It should come as no surprise, then, that when a certain television network recently announced its upcoming “John Wayne Marathon”, both I (and my DVR) took notice. But as I programmed in the films I (we) intended to record, I was struck by something I had not heretofore grasped. That was just how many of his films contained the term “Rio” in the title. These include “Rio Grande”, “Rio Bravo”, and “Rio Lobo”.

Now, to be sure, Hollywood is replete with sequels whose titles include the repetition of a given term. Such franchises as “Star Wars”, “Indiana Jones”, “Die Hard”, and “Jaws” all come to mind. But in each case, these all involved the continuation of a given story line. By contrast, the various “Rio” titles of Wayne’s films all involved separate and stand-alone plots.

Still, I am struck by the notion that they each revolve around a given element: that of rivers. After all, the term “rio” is simply the Spanish term for the English term “river”. And thus, if there was ever a theme to encapsulate John Wayne’s own large volume of work on the silver screen, perhaps it is that of a river. After all, even in those films where it is not part of the title, we see the river theme on display over and over again.

Who can forget the vast Arkansas river being crossed with great effort by little Mattie Ross (played by Kim Darby) in the only movie for which Wayne won an Academy Award, 1969’s “True Grit”? Or what about the classic sequel to that very movie, “Rooster Cogburn”, in which Wayne must transport a spinster named “Eula Goodnight” (played by Katherine Hepburn), to safety down a long, winding, and treacherous river?

These are but two of the many, many examples I could cite of the recurrence of river themes in the Duke’s movies. For whatever reason, they seem to be quite prevalent.

Of course, Wayne himself was no coward when it came to stating and sharing his views - be they political, social, or otherwise. In that sense, he, himself, was also a river. For out of him inevitably flowed his personal convictions and views on a plethora of subjects.

And in this sense, at least, is not John Wayne just a symbol for each and every one of us? After all, do we not all ultimately send downstream an assorted concoction of our accumulated values, opinions, and preferences? I know I do.

The Bible, too, makes much of the imagery of rivers. There, in an often arid and desolate land, such waters alone make possible, not only life, but life in abundance. Such examples include Psalm 1, Psalm 46, and Revelation 22. I have personally been to the lands of the Bible on many occasions. And I can testify that where there are rivers, there is life; and conversely, where there are no rivers, there is also no life.

Does it not, therefore, behoove those of us who have experienced the benefit of life due to our association with the River of Life, Himself - the very Son of God, Jesus Christ - to share that life-giving hydration with those who are still spiritually parched and thirsting to death?

Remember, Jesus, Himself, told the woman at the well that “whoever drinks the water I give them will never thirst. Indeed, the water I give them will become in them a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”

I, for one, am grateful that I have drunk of that life-giving spring. And now, I gladly let the excess brimming from me overflow downstream to any and all would-be recipients.

Back in the day, we used to gather in our youth group at our local Baptist Church and sing these words…

I’ve Got A River Of Life Flowing Out Of Me
Makes The Lame To Walk And The Blind To See,
Opens Prison Doors, Sets The Captives Free
I’ve Got A River Of Life Flowing Out Of Me.

Spring Up, O Well
Within My Soul,
Spring Up, O Well
And Make Me Whole,
Spring Up, O Well
And Give To Me
That Life Abundantly!

There’s A Fountain Flowing From The Savior’s Side,
All My Sins Forgiven In That Precious Tide,
Jesus Paid The Price When For Me He Died,
There’s A Fountain Flowing From The Savior’s Side.

There’s A Risen Savior At The Father’s Throne,
Ever Interceding For His Very Own,
Pouring Down The Blessings That Are His Alone.
There’s A Risen Savior At The Father’s Throne.

There’s A Holy Comforter Who’s Sent From Heaven,
All The Glorious Gifts Are His, And Have Been Given,
He’ll Show Us More Of Jesus ‘Til The Veil Is Riven.
There’s A Holy Comforter Who’s Sent From Heaven.

There’s A Land Of Rest That We May Enter Now,
Freed From All Our Works And Freed From Satan’s Power,
Just Resting In The Lord Each Moment And Each Hour.
There’s A Land Of Rest That We May Enter Now.

There’s Full Salvation Wrought For You And Me,
From Faith To Faith And Glory To Glory Eternally,
O Lord, Just Take This Life And Let Me Live For Thee.
There’s A Full Salvation Wrought For You And Me.

All these years later, I still have a river of life flowing out of me. And I hope, thenceforward, to… “Let it flow, let it flow, let it flow!”

SOURCES:

CHRISTMAS SONG LYRICS:

https://genius.com/Christmas-songs-let-it-snow-lyric.

JOHN WAYNE STATISTICS:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Wayne.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/john/4-14.htm.

PRAISE SONG LYRICS:

https://divinehymns.com/lyrics/ive-got-a-river-of-life-song-lyrics/.

LASTLY, SEE ALSO:

https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/think-twice;

https://www.cleoejacksoniii.com/my-ongoing-thoughts/i-love-this-place.

(If nothing else, this proves that great minds do, indeed, think alike. Over the years, John Wayne produced three "Rio" movies; and over the years, intentionally or not, I have now produced three "John Wayne" posts.)

PACKAGE DEAL!

11/30/2023

I want to begin my blog post today with a qualification. I say this because the news article I intend to reference is replete with implicit (and in my opinion, completely unnecessary) expletives. Such is life in the year of our Lord 2023. That being said, it is hoped that the reason I have chosen to cite the article will be self-evident.

The article, titled “Single Man ‘****Ing Traumatized’ After Girl Brings Two Surprise Guests to First Date: ‘Our Time Here Is Done’”, appeared on FoxNews.com.

According to the article…

A man describing a first date nightmare in a TikTok went viral, amassing over 20,000,000 views, because of the special guests that showed up at a restaurant with a girl named "Priyanka." The single, Zakir Siddiqui, describes himself as a ‘viral Indian man on TikTok with a black belt in first dates.’

In one of the stories he told, Siddiqui confessed it was a traumatizing experience. “I just went on a first date, and honestly I am f---ing traumatized,” Siddiqui said. Priyanka's bio on Bumble, an online dating app, said, "It's either this or an arranged marriage." Siddiqui took the description in stride, thinking it was a joke.

“So I thought it was funny, and I responded to her. So she's talking about her family. She's talking about her roots. And we both have something in common that both of our families are from parts of India.”

The two agreed to get Indian food for their first date. So I see her and she looks great. I give her a hug,” he said. Priyanka then gestured towards the restaurant. “She was walking in front of me, and she said, ‘This is where our table is.’ So we're walking towards our table. And I'm just following her… And I see two people that are sitting at our table.”

Siddiqui asked her why the table was occupied. “I'm like, uh, who's sitting at our table and there's a table of four here. And she's like, ‘Oh, this is my mom and my dad.’” Siddiqui kept it cool and greeted his date's parents. “Hello, how are you doing?” He admitted, however, “I was not prepared for this moment in life. There was no way that she had brought her mom and dad with her on the first date.”

He said at that point, he felt like giving up on dating entirely. “I'm like. That's it. This is my arranged marriage. I cannot hide from this moment in time. My love life expired there. There is officially an end to my dating career,” he said.

Siddiqui then described being questioned by the parents about what he does for a living and other biographical information. “Oh my God, is this an interrogation room or a date? I wasn't even sure,” he said. It didn't appear to him Priyanka's parents were satisfied with all of his answers.

“And I'm like, 'Oh, ****. I don't think this is going well at all.” Priyanka's father then asked, “Can you call your parents to come join us?” Siddiqui said his parents couldn't make it because they lived far away.

Reflecting on that moment, he said in an exasperated tone, “I thought this was a ****ing date with me and Priyanka and I had no idea that the parents were going to become involved. And we're going to arguably set up an arranged marriage on the first date!”

“So I was like, Oh, so sorry. Like my parents are, you know, aren't nearby, and they won't be able to make it… So then he said, okay, our time here is done, Priyanka, let's go.”

According to the reporter, Hannah Grossman, Siddiqui declined an interview for the article.

Now I will admit that I am not necessarily in favor of arranged marriages. Indeed, the only individual who should ever be in the business of arranging marriages is the Almighty Himself! And in my own case, I am very thankful He did.

I first met the young lady who was destined to be my wife back in the tenth grade. I was smitten by here at first sight. I immediately set about trying to obtain a date with her. It took me to the fourth time asking her before she finally said yes. In the meantime, she let me know that she could not go out with me without her parents’ permission. And she flooded me with a series of questions that were evidently designed to answer and/or assuage her parents’ concerns.

Our first date consisted of going to the Steak ‘n Shake after church on Sunday night. The next one consisted of a Friday night pizza and movie night. But this second one was not allowed to proceed until I first came to her house and met and conversed with her parents.

Evidently, I passed this interview, as our relationship was allowed to unfold. Thus far, that relationship has resulted in a soon-to-be 48 year bond, and along the way, was destined to produce three children, three children’s spouses, and (so far) seven grandchildren.

It also produced a solid respect for my wife’s parents on my behalf; as well as the same for mine on her behalf. So much so that I adopted the same approach as my father-in-law once did when my daughter first brought home a young man who was destined to become my son-in-law.

What is more, as the years have unfolded, I have repeatedly found myself walking a similar path to what my father-in-law walked before me. I have had to deal with my children as he did his. I have had to deal with their respective spouses as he did. I have had to deal with my grandchildren as he did his. And in each case, I have found myself asking e=what he would have done.

All of this is to say that I am glad that when I met the beautiful young lady who was to become my wife, I also met her parents. More to the point, in marrying her and making her my wife, I committed myself not only to her, but also to her parents. It was truly a package deal! And I am glad it was.

I can only hope that my own children-in-law (consisting of one son-in-law and two daughters-in-law) will see in me the same value I came to see in my own in-laws. And that they will embrace the fact that their marriage to our offspring was indeed a package deal.

In the New Testament Book of Ephesians, chapter 6, verse 2, the Bible tells us to honor our father and mother. Surely that includes the parents of our spouses as well as our own parents. For one cannot embrace a spouse without also embracing the ones that spouse holds dear. And this is especially true of father and mother-in-laws.

NEWS ITEM SOURCE:

https://www.foxnews.com/media/man-left-traumatized-after-girl-brings-two-surprise-guests-first-date-time-here-is-done.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/ephesians/6-2.htm.

HOW IT ALL STARTS…

11/26/2023

While watching my beloved Georgia Bulldogs play their final regular season game this past week against their in-state arch-rival, the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets, I happened to catch a television commercial that I found somewhat intriguing.

The ad is titled “How GameDay Got Its Signs”. It tells the story of Bobby Mersed, who was the very first person to hold up a sign in the background while ESPN’s GameDay was airing their kickoff program. The year was 1994, and GameDay came to the campus of the University of Nebraska in Lincoln.

Mersed made a sign and then held it up high as he boldly walked back and forth behind the sportscasters on live television. The campus police immediately told him “No signs!” But as Bobby puts it: “It was too late… I had already changed the world!”

Indeed he had. Nary an episode of GameDay airs today without an absolute plethora of signs - some funny, some provocative, some frivolous - but all vying for preeminence and camera time. Indeed, the spectacle has since become one of America’s most beloved pre-game traditions. In the minds of many, GameDay just would not be complete without it.

As I reflected on this commercial, I was reminded that everything - every story, every issue, every movement – has its beginnings somewhere. And most often, this beginning is with just one or two people daring to act. The same is true with regard to the sharing of the Gospel message. It too started somewhere at some time by someone or ones.

As the Christmas season unfolds, many of us will reflect afresh and anew upon the words of Luke’s New Testament Gospel in chapter 2, verses 1-16:

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.) And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) To be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered. And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night. And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Fear not: for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people. For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying, Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will toward men.

And it came to pass, as the angels were gone away from them into heaven, the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem, and see this thing which is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary, and Joseph, and the babe lying in a manger.

These words are familiar enough to most of us. And well they should be; for they contain the greatest news that has ever been given!

But an often overlooked part of the story is found in verses 17-18…

And when they had seen it, they made known abroad the saying which was told them concerning this child. And all they that heard it wondered at those things which were told them by the shepherds.

The King James Version says they (the shepherds) immediately “made known” these things. Other translations say they “spread the word”, spread the message”, “proclaimed abroad”, and “told everyone” what all they had seen and heard. The shepherds were obviously caught up in the moment. But one wonders if they truly knew and understood that the message they were spreading would one day change the world. Yet, that it is exactly what it did!

As the story goes, Bobby Mersed was not sending any message about Nebraska football that fateful day. Instead, he was sending a simple message to others whom he loved and cared for. (See below.) And yet, look what came of it!

Perhaps our most basic task this Christmas is not so much to gather with others and discuss and/or promote our personal views on how to solve all the world’s problems. Perhaps, instead, it is simply to let them know that we love them, and that we have found the One Who can indeed solve all the world’s problems, including theirs. And then, to tell them His story!

Who knows? In so doing, we too might just wind up changing the world!

I leave you with words of Kurt Kaiser, who arguably changed the world himself with a simple song he wrote back in 1969…

It only takes a spark to get a fire going,
and soon all those around can warm up in its glowing.
That's how it is with God's love, once you've experienced it;
you spread his love to everyone;
you want to pass it on.

I wish for you my friend
This happiness that I've found;
You can depend on God
It matters not where you're bound,
I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

I'll shout it from the mountain top - PRAISE GOD!
I want the world to know
The Lord of love has come to me
I want to pass it on.

TELEVISION COMMERCIAL SOURCE:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HG2oAspsQ00.

SEE ALSO:

https://www.thesportscol.com/2023/10/how-the-gameday-signs-tradition-got-started/.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/kjv/luke/2.htm.

SONG LYRICS SOURCES:

https://www.umcdiscipleship.org/resources/history-of-hymns-pass-it-on;

https://www.hymnlyrics.org/newlyrics_p/pass_it_on.php.

SO MUCH TO BE THANKFUL FOR!

11/22/2023

I was blessed to have been a child of the 1960s who came of age in the 1970s. The latter decade was especially significant in that it is often considered by historians to have been a time of great spiritual renewal in America. Some even go so far as to call it the "Fourth Great Awakening" in American history.

The little church I was raised in caught on fire, as it were, and grew considerably, going from about two hundred members to several thousand in a fifteen to twenty year period. Weekly worship attendance swelled from less than a hundred to over two thousand. And in the midst of this, at its peak, the youth group of which I was a part ran over two hundred in attendance each week for Bible Study.

The Lord used that church in my life in a powerful way. I was converted, baptized, called to ministry, licensed to preach, and ordained to the ministry in that place. As a result, I have spent some forty five years engaged in ministry in some form or the other. For all these things, I am especially thankful.

I also walked into a tenth grade Sunday School class in that place and met the young lady who would one day become my wife. The two of us would spend our lives together, and be used of God to bring three children and, through them, seven grandchildren into this world. For all of these things, I am equally grateful.

These days, as I reflect on those formative teenage years, I realize just how crucial they were in setting the course for my entire adult life. And I thank God more and more and more for allowing me to travel the path that I have in life.

One of the songs we used to sing in weekly Bible Study, as well as on retreats to the beach or to the mountains stressed the importance of being thankful. The chorus went something like this:

"We’ve got so much so much so much so much so much
So much so much so much so much so much
So much so much so much to be thankful for!

We’ve got so much so much so much so much so much
So much so much so much so much so much
So much so much so much to be thankful for!"

Interspersed was a succession of verses repeating this phrase:

"We’ve got ____________ to be thankful for;
we’ve got ____________ to be thankful for."

Different phrases were then inserted into each successive verse, each one expressing the various things we were all grateful for. For instance, we would sing such verses as…

"We’ve got our Savior to be thankful for; we’ve got our Savior to be thankful for."

"We’ve got our Bible to be thankful for; we’ve got our Bible to be thankful for."

"We’ve got each other to be thankful for; we’ve got each other to be thankful for."

We might go through half a dozen or so such items for which we were appreciative of in each rendition. Different persons in the group would feel free to call out something for us to sing about in the next verse, and this would go on for some time. The list of things might change from week to week; but the song was always sung with enthusiasm by everyone involved.

As I write this, it is the night before Thanksgiving; and for whatever reason, I have spent the better part of this whole day with this little praise chorus stuck in my head. I’ve been humming it and singing it repeatedly.

And here is the strange thing I have discovered. The more things I give thanks to God for, the more things He brings to mind for which to give Him thanks. I have had very little trouble coming up with things to keep singing about and praising Him for all throughout the day.

In the New Testament Gospel of John (chapter 14, verse 26), Jesus tells His disciples that the Holy Spirit would one day come to them and remind them of all the words and deeds He shared with them when they first began to follow Him. John also tells us that, on at least two occasions later on, the Disciples did indeed remember their powerful earlier discussions and experiences with their Master.

No doubt as they recalled these times, their hearts were filled with gladness and with gratitude for all they been allowed to experience earlier in their lives.

I leave you with the words of Johnson Oatman in his classic hymn: "Count Your Blessings"…

"When upon life's billows you are tempest tossed,
When you are discouraged, thinking all is lost,
Count your many blessings, name them one by one,
And it will surprise you what the Lord hath done."

The well-known refrain says:

"Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your blessings, see what God hath done;
Count your blessings, name them one by one;
Count your many blessings, see what God hath done."

And in the final verse, he writes:

"So, amid the conflict, whether great or small,
Do not be discouraged, God is over all;
Count your many blessings, angels will attend,
Help and comfort give you to your journey's end."

Oatman may just be right here. God may well use angels to remind us of our blessings. But most assuredly, the Holy Spirit Himself will come along beside us and bring to our minds the goodness with which God has blessed us through His Son, Jesus Christ.

This day in my life is living proof of that. For all day long, the Holy Spirit has reminded me that I myself have...

"so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much, so much to be thankful for!"

No doubt you do as well.

SOURCES:

PRAISE CHORUS LYRICS:

https://tabs.ultimate-guitar.com/tab/misc-praise-songs/so-much-chords-3622487.

HYMN LYRICS:

https://hymnary.org/text/when_upon_lifes_billows_you_are_tempest.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/john/14-26.htm. Note the cross references in the right hand column for the Disciples’ later remembrances.

SEE ALSO:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Great_Awakening;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fourth_Great_Awakening.

"JUST LOOK WHAT THE TIDE BROUGHT IN!"

11/17/2023

It happens every so often. And alas, it has now happened yet again. According to an article on www.FoxNews.com titled "Message in a Bottle Written by Massachusetts 5th Grader Found in France 26 Years Later", yet another "Message in a Bottle", as Nicholas Sparks termed it, has now occurred.

The piece, subtitled "'It's Crazy' - Man In France Finds And Returns Message In A Bottle To School In Sandwich, Massachusetts", over two and a half decades after it was first set afloat upon the high seas, a glass bottle with a message in it has been found. More importantly, the finder has responded.

It seems that a French man stumbled upon a handwritten message in a bottle that washed up on the beach on the western shores of the country, a full 26 years after the bottle was tossed into the sea by a Massachusetts fifth grader.

According to the article:

"It’s crazy to think it took that long for someone to find it," Carol Archambeault, an English teacher in the Sandwich, Massachusetts, public school district told Fox News Digital. "The bottle is so old, I can see why people are so interested in it," she added.

The faded letter, addressed "Dear Beachcomber," was penned by Benjamin Lyons, a fifth grader at Forestdale School in Sandwich. Dated October 1997, the letter was written as part of a science unit on ocean currents led by teacher Frederic Hemmila.

"It was a culminating activity after studying ocean currents and tides," said Archambeault, his teaching counterpart. "They were trying to see where the letters would end up, where the currents would take them."

In the letters, students provided their names, the date they wrote the letters, and where they attended school in Sandwich. Fifth grader Lyons wrote that he thanked the finder for being "kind enough" to pick up the bottle. He explained that his class was studying currents and dropped the bottles in Nantucket Sound - hoping that whoever found it could answer a few questions.

Hemmila had a friend, Archambeault remembered, who was a boat captain. Each year, Hemmila's friend took the bottles and cast them into the ocean - a practice that was suspended a few years later so as not to contribute to marine litter, according to Archambeault. "Now, of course, we know that’s not so eco-friendly," Archambeault said. "But at that time, it was a very exciting activity. The kids would wait to see if they had any answers," she added.

In his message in a bottle, Lyons included a few questions in case a person eventually found it: "Where did you find the bottle? What condition was it in? Was there anything around the bottle besides water and rocks? How did you find it?"

Archambeault said Hemmila and his students went to great lengths to seal the bottles in the hope they would make it to faraway shores with the letters still intact. "I know that [they] sealed them with wax so they're found in pretty good condition," Archambeault said.

The students (did indeed seal) the bottles with wax so that if anyone found them, the written messages inside would still be intact. (Brandy Clifford, Oakridge School, Sandwich, Massachusetts) She went on, "The one the gentleman found in France was in decent condition because no water had gotten into the bottle in 26 years."

Last month, a brown package arrived at Forestdale School, addressed to "Mr. Benjamin Lyons." "So it came here and our secretaries were looking him up in PowerSchool [a classroom attendance and management tool], trying to find out who this kid is," Brandy Clifford, assistant principal at another local school, Oak Ridge, told Fox News Digital.

Clifford went on, "It came through inner-office mail. They thought he was a current student, but they didn’t know who he was." At a loss, administrators decided to open the envelope. They found a note inside, written in French. He opened it - and did exactly what the sender requested.

"Hello Sir, Bottle found on a sandy beach in Les Sables-d'Olonne, Vendée, France on 19 August 2023," the letter read. Fisherman Hubert Eriau, 71, was picking up trash on a beach when he came upon an old bottle that had washed ashore. After opening it, he wrote a letter to the school in Massachusetts where the message inside the bottle was written by a student roughly 30 years ago. (Brandy Clifford, Oakridge School, Sandwich, Massachusetts)

"I was at the beach and as I was walking along, picking up trash on the beach, it was like it was there for me to find the bottle. It had several barnacles collected on it," Eirau's letter, which was translated from French to English for Fox News Digital, continued. The package included a picture of Eirau and also contained the original letter from Lyons.

That’s when everyone in the fairly small town of Sandwich began putting it together. "They were over the top, just so excited about this," Clifford said. "Once I saw the name, I said, 'Oh my God.' I was having dinner with his parents two days from then."

Archambeault did not have Lyons in class - but said she taught his sister and brother. "So I'm familiar with the family," Archambeault said. "I definitely knew as soon as they said it was Ben Lyons." Hemmila’s students’ messages have provided pop-ups of excitement over the years, according to Archambeault. "It's been a really long time since one has been found," Archambeault said. "Obviously a bunch would wash up on Cape Cod," she added.

"I know that we had several in France, so obviously something in the currents must lead that way. And I'm pretty sure we had one returned from Greenland. So, they've traveled really far and the people that find them are so gracious to reach out and write back."

As I read this article, I could not help but remember two things. The first is when my sister, herself a school teacher, and my wife once set a paper "Flat Stanley" character inside a bottle afloat in the sea. That was approximately 15 years ago. To date, there has been no response to that requested response.

The second is the admonition of the writer of the Old Testament Book of Ecclesiastes, who said in chapter 11, verse 1: "Cast thy bread upon the waters: for thou shalt find it after many days."

Why would I say this? Precisely because this verse is often associated with sending things out to sea and awaiting a response.

What then are we to make of this verse? Well, the folks over at the "Got Questions. Your Questions. Biblical Answers." website have done a good job of expositing this passage. They write:

"Ecclesiastes 11:1 says, 'Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days' (ESV). This maxim has led to a variety of interpretations, some better than others…

One view is that the instruction to 'cast your bread upon the waters' has to do with international commerce. The principle is that, if you invest your 'bread' or 'grain' wisely, in a broad enough market, you will garner a return. A couple of Bible translations bring out this meaning:

'Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return' (NIV). 'Invest your money in foreign trade, and one of these days you will make a profit.' (GNT).

The problem with seeing this verse as advice on international trade is that the context doesn’t much support it. One of the themes of Ecclesiastes is that financial gain is 'vanity' (see Ecclesiastes 5:10–17), so why would the author, Solomon, near the end of the book, be giving advice on how to turn a profit?

Another view is that the instruction to 'cast your bread upon the waters' is a metaphor for being generous, even if a return seems unlikely. A couple of other translations emphasize this meaning:

'Be generous, and someday you will be rewarded' (CEV). 'Do good wherever you go. After a while, the good you do will come back to you' (ERV).

This second, metaphorical view is probably more in line with the intent of the verse. Casting bread or sowing seed on water seems to be an exercise in futility. But you don’t know what the actual results will be, says Solomon; in faith be generous, and in faith expect a return somewhere down the road. This accords with Proverbs 11:18, 'The one who sows righteousness reaps a sure reward'; and Galatians 6:9, 'Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.'

Carrying that interpretation forward, we look at Ecclesiastes 11:1–2 together: 'Ship your grain across the sea; after many days you may receive a return. Invest in seven ventures, yes, in eight; you do not know what disaster may come upon the land.'

The passage as a whole communicates the principle of doing as much good as you can, knowing two things: the results are in God’s hands, and you don’t know when you yourself will be in need of someone else’s generosity.

The book of Ecclesiastes is unique in the Hebrew Scriptures. It is the only book that overtly philosophizes. Specifically, Ecclesiastes is a book of practical philosophy - it is based on observation and experience, not on strained, esoteric ideas.

The topic in Ecclesiastes 11:1-6 is not how water affects bread. It is about how our goodness affects the world. The bread and water are used as imagery. The 'bread', which by metonymy is best understood to be the seed of the bread (its grain), represents our goodness, and the rest of the passage encourages us to be undeterred in our “sowing. We must 'cast our bread' - we must liberally extend our goodness, even when it doesn’t seem to be doing any good (cf. Matthew 5:44 and Luke 14:13–14).

We should note that Ecclesiastes 11:1 is not a holy algorithm that says if you do X in the Y way then Z will happen. Rather, Solomon gives us a precept and a prescription. It is not a formula like those used in laboratories that necessarily yield the same results time after time. Sowing goodness comes under the realm of social science.

Solomon is offering good advice based on his observations. But since people are involved - and since people are volitional creatures - the maxim cannot guarantee a positive result in every case. This 'no guarantees' aspect of benevolence is shown by the phrase 'upon the waters”. We cast our bread out into the world, and we simply cannot know if every seed will find a place to grow. What we do know is that a significant number of seeds will grow. We should not get hung up on the fact that some of the seeds will not thrive (cf. Mark 4:3–20).

Casting bread upon the waters evokes the law of sowing and reaping. The seed in this case is one’s acts of goodness. There will be a harvest in heaven, if not in this world. But the point Solomon makes is more than that we should sow goodness in order to reap a future harvest; the idea is for us to become people who will do good for goodness’ sake, irrespective of the harvest.

Ecclesiastes 11:1–6 can reasonably mean, 'Sow seeds of goodness every day, even when it doesn’t make sense to do so. In due season you will reap a reward. Be diligent about sowing goodness, and accept no excuses! Then goodness will become a part of who you are, not just a thing that you do, and the world will be a better place because of it.'"

For my part, I have never personally cast anything upon the waters of the world’s oceans. This might well be because I live hundreds of miles inland. But I have certainly placed my money in domestic and international investments, hoping for a profitable return. At times, I have been rewarded; and at times, I have not.

Better yet (and more to the point), I have tried to be generous, and to do good wherever I have gone. And yes, I like to feel like I have truly been "rewarded" as a result, and that the good I have done has very often "come back home to me".

And so, my friend, cast thine own bread upon the water, and someday you too will be "rewarded". Indeed… "Do good wherever you go. (And) after a while, the good you do will (surely) come back to you (as well)!"

ARTICLE SOURCE:

https://www.foxnews.com/lifestyle/message-bottle-written-massachusetts-5th-grader-found-france-26-years-later. The author, Gretchen Eichenberg, is a contributing reporter for Fox News Digital.

BIBLICAL VERSE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/ecclesiastes/11-1.htm.

BIBLICAL EXPOSITION SOURCE:

https://www.gotquestions.org/cast-your-bread-upon-the-waters.html.

“JUST LOOK WHAT YOU DID!”

11/11/2023

The story is told of a certain senior adult man who was in the drive-through line at a local McDonald’s one day; and he was taking a little too much time to make up his mind about what he wanted to eat. At least that it is how it seemed to the lady in the vehicle behind him.

She only had an hour for lunch; and having already run several errands, she now needed to grab a quick meal in order to get back to her place of employment on time. Accordingly, she honked her horn, then yelled, then gesticulated at the man in an effort to speed him along.

When the man did not respond fast enough to her liking, she simply increased the volume and speed of the vitriol she poured forth on the poor man. Finally, after what seemed like an eternity, the man made up his mind, ordered and moved forward to the first window to pay. Once there, he told the cashier that he would not only like to pay for his meal, but also for that of the customer behind him.

He then proceeded to the second window to retrieve his meal. As he did, the lady behind him, who had now ordered her meal, came up to the first window to pay. Here, she discovered the kindly gesture bestowed upon her by the man ahead of her.

Overcome with regret for her previous behavior, she immediately began to try to get his attention. Once again, she called out and gesticulated, only in a kinder, gentler tone, as she attempted to convey both her apologies and here gratitude.

The man simply waved a friendly hand in return before turning his attention to the server at the window. It was here then that he showed the attendant two receipts, informing her that he actually had placed two orders. Upon seeing the two receipts, the employee dutifully handed both orders to him. With one final wave of his hand, he drove off.

Thereafter, the lady behind him found herself in the unenviable position of having either to go through the drive-through line a second time or else to skip lunch altogether!

My immediate source for this story is a sermon I heard delivered at church recently. The pastor, a friend of mine, told it as a humorous illustration. But a search of the internet shows that it very likely actually happened. (See below.) Either way, the story is full of admonition for how we choose to treat others.

I could not help but reflect on this story over the weekend. As our nation celebrated Veteran’s Day, I thought about just how much others have been willing to sacrifice on my behalf. After all, where would I be if so many men and women, a great many of which are of a generation older than me, had not literally paid the price for my benefit.

And yet, how have I repaid them? Have I treated them with the respect and dignity they deserve? Or have I barreled my way through life, if not outright ignoring them and their sacrifice, then doing little more than treating them rudely as I callously pursued my own self-centered agenda?!

Sadly, in the world in which we live, far too many veterans get the latter treatment. And yet, I know of very few veterans who would respond to being disrespected in the manner in which the man in the story above did. Most of them would simply suffer the indignity of the moment. But they would certainly be within their rights if they did respond in such a fashion! After all, they are the ones who paid the price for the life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness we each now enjoy.

These days, might wife and I make it a point NEVER to let an opportunity to express gratitude to a veteran pass us by. Whenever either of us sees an individual either in uniform or in a cap or in any other garment signifying their present or past service in any branch of the Armed Forces, we make it a point to stop and say “Thank you for serving our country!”

It’s a small gesture. And it only takes a few seconds out of our lives and theirs. But you would be surprised at how appreciative the ones who hear this tend to be. Not one single time (and there have been hundreds), has the veteran not shown genuine appreciation for our words.

As he wrote his New Testament Letter to the Philippians, the Apostle Paul was facing his own death. He recognized that he may well be facing imminent martyrdom for the faith. In chapter 2, verses 17-18, he wrote: “But even if I am being poured out like a drink offering on the sacrifice and service of your faith, I am glad and rejoice with all of you. So you too should be glad and rejoice with me.”

This is a powerful verse of scripture. On the one hand, we see the willingness of one who is ready to lay down his life for the Kingdom of God and fellow believers. On the other hand, we see the admonition of such a one to others to affirm him in what he is willing to do.

Likewise, this Veteran’s Day weekend, I have been reminded of all those who have been willing to lay down their life for my country (and by implication, for me). I have also been reminded of my own obligation to affirm and support them in their willingness to do so.

May I ever see what they did for me! And may the same be true for you.

PROBABLE STORY SOURCE:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/9748728/mcdonalds-drive-thru-revenge/.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/philippians/2.htm.

ALL WASHED UP?!

11/5/2023

My title today comes from what was one of my grandmother’s all-time favorite phrases. Or so it seemed to me; as she was forever asking my cousins, my sisters, and me whether or not we had all washed up before we sat down for a meal!

I thought about that this past week as I read the following Fox News article by Melissa Rudy titled: “Virginia High School Student Creates Soap to Fight Skin Cancer, Is Awarded $25K: ‘Remarkable Effort’ - Heman Bekele, 14, Said The Project Started Out As A ‘Fun Science Experiment’”

Here is my own brief summary of the highlights of that article…

It seems that a young man named Heman Bekele, who attends W. T. Woodson High School in the Fairfax County (Virginia) Public Schools system, was recently crowned “America’s Top Young Scientist” and awarded $25,000 after winning this year’s 3M Young Scientist Challenge.

The high school freshman started out looking for a fun science experiment; but ended up making soap with the aim of treating skin cancer. The teen’s idea stemmed from his memories of people working long hours outside under the glaring sun in Ethiopia, his native country.

“Skin cancer is mostly found on people who live within developing countries,” Bekele said in a press release… “But the average price for an operation is $40,000 … I was devastated by the idea of people having to choose between treatment and putting food on the table for their families … There are so many preventable deaths.”

An aspiring scientist, Bekele began researching skin cancer - particularly dendritic cells, which help the immune system attack cancer cells. He used various ingredients - including salicylic acid, glycolic acid and tretinoin - to create a skin-cancer-treating soap that helps stimulate dendritic cells.

The process taught young Bekele the value of persistence, as one major challenge was finding the right combination of ingredients to ensure the soap held together without flaking into pieces. After many tries, he was finally able to make that happen, using 3M Cavilon (a moisturizer and barrier cream), coconut oil and organic shea butter,

Eric D. Whitman, M.D., who serves as medical director of Atlantic Health System Cancer Care in New Jersey, said Bekele’s invention is an “interesting way of creating a topical immune activating agent that could help treat or prevent some skin cancers.”

According to Whitman, “He saw a need and used science to solve it … While [this is] a remarkable effort from such a bright and motivated young man, further clinical testing is required to find out if (and how) the soap ‘reactivates’ dendritic cells, or even treats or prevents skin cancer … I hope this young scientist continues his work and is given a chance to collaborate with clinical centers to test his product and see if it fulfills its potential promise.”

Bekele himself plans to use his cash prize, first, toward securing a patent for his soap, and then for saving for college. In the future, he hopes to launch a nonprofit organization to distribute his soap in low-income communities.

The teen’s parents are understandably proud of him. “We are excited to see Heman’s dedication and resilience paying off … It is also a confirmation for kids like him that it is possible … We are extremely proud of his accomplishment and looking forward to his next steps to making a difference in the world.”

As I read the article, I could not help but relate. After all, skin cancer is a terrible thing. Most everyone knows someone who has suffered from its ravages; and I for one, wish its presence upon no one. What is more, as someone who life-guarded for several summers while in college, I find that I now make regular visits to the dermatologist to make sure that whatever blemishes I find on my skin are dealt with early and efficiently!

But I want to draw a further parallel as well. As terrible as skin cancer can be, it pales in comparison to another, far more deadly condition that is faced universally by every single man and woman. This condition is not so much a physical one as a spiritual one. The Bible calls this condition sinfulness; and asserts that its consequence is death - not just physical death, but spiritual death.

In the New Testament Book of Romans, we read (in chapter 3, verses 10-12):

“There is no one righteous, not even one. There is no one who understands, no one who seeks God. All have turned away, they have together become worthless; there is no one who does good, not even one.”

To which the Apostle Paul adds (in chapter 3, verse 23): “for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.”

Sadly, he further reveals (in chapter 6, verse 23a) that “the wages (or consequences) of sin is death…”

Such is the plight of humanity. We are cursed with a condition known as sinfulness; and the consequences of that is spiritual death!

And yet, there is good news!

In Romans (chapter 6, verse 23 b), Paul states: “… but the gift of God is eternal life in Christ Jesus our Lord.”

He tells us why this is in chapter 5, verse 8. Even though we are all sinners who deserve death, “… God proves His love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.”

And there you have it, Christ’s atoning work on the cross paid the price for our sins and set us free from the curse of death. He Who knew no sin literally became sin for us! In so doing, He died that we might live! And He now lives again that we might know His power to overcome death, sin, and Hell!

Later on in the New Testament, the Apostle John (in his First New Testament Letter, chapter 1, verses 5-10) tells us:

“And this is the message we have heard from Him and announce to you: God is light, and in Him there is no darkness at all. If we say we have fellowship with Him yet walk in the darkness, we lie and do not practice the truth. But if we walk in the light as He is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.

If we say we have no sin, we deceive ourselves, and the truth is not in us. If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. If we say we have not sinned, we make Him out to be a liar, and His word is not in us.”

Did you catch it?

According to verse 9, it is the blood of God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, which cleanses us from all sin.

And so, my friend, I ask you this today. In the words of E. A. Hoffman’s famous hymn:

“Have you been to Jesus for the cleansing power?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb? Are you fully trusting in His grace this hour?
Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?

Are you washed in the blood,
In the soul cleansing blood of the Lamb?
Are your garments spotless?
Are they white as snow?

Are you washed in the blood of the Lamb?”
If not, you can be. And you should be. For apart from bathing in the soul-cleansing blood of God’s One and Only Son, Jesus Christ, there is no hope of your ever being cleansed of the stain, the stench, and the strength of sin!

As John puts it, “the blood of Jesus His Son cleanses us from all sin.”

Long ago, I learned the value of washing up and having clean hands ahead of sitting down at my grandmother’s table. After all, she had expectations of me. And she wanted the very best for me.

More importantly, I eventually learned the importance of being washed in the blood and having a clean heart in my Master’s presence. After all, He, more than anyone else, has expectations of me. And above anyone else, He wants the very best for me!

I hope you too have learned the importance of being all washed up as well. Especially as concerns the Son of God, Jesus Christ. If not, I trust you will be washed and made clean this very day.

For in a spiritual sense, at least, cleanliness is very much next to Godliness!

ARTICLE SOURCE:

https://www.foxnews.com/health/virginia-high-school-student-creates-soap-fight-skin-cancer-awarded-25k-remarkable-effort.

The author, Melissa Rudy, is health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital.

SCRIPTURE SOURCES:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/3.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/romans/6.htm;
https://biblehub.com/bsb/1_john/1.htm.

HYMN LYRICS SOURCE:

https://hymnary.org/text/have_you_been_to_jesus_for_the_cleansing.

UNMASKED!

11/1/2023

Jeff Goins is a bestselling author, podcaster, blogger, marketer, speaker, (and, according to this website) “a few other things”. As such, he offers ongoing encouragement to would-be authors to stay by the stuff, complete their manuscripts, and hopefully change the world.

Anyway, he posted the following poem today, the day after Halloween. In my opinion, it speaks volumes, not just to me, but to anyone who would really make a difference in this world. With his blessings, I repost it here.

We were told to fear ghosts.
To not look under the bed
and face the darkness within.

So we walked through life,
pretending to be good
instead of daring to be real
and we missed the phantasms
we could have been.

As soon as you crossed the street
after seeing some shadowy character
who reminded you of your own monstrosity--
choosing instead to keep more pleasant company--
you became a ghost

One who haunts the world
in the worst way possible:
with skin and blood and musculature,
a being wearing the mask of human.

You gave up the fight to be what you are.
And, I suppose, so did I.

For me, this poem is more than a little convicting. Remember, it was posted the day after Halloween - the day which is supposed to be, above all others, scary. And to many, perhaps, it is.

But in all sincerity, there are many things in this world that are far scarier. One of those is on display here.

After all, to take the path of least resistance and simply hide behind a mask of conformity rather than to reveal one’s true desire to be known as an individual willing to take on and change the world is clearly to miss out on what could have been!

Where would the world be today if this had always been the case?!

Seriously…

Where would the world be today if the Allied powers had chosen simply to conform rather than to take a stand against the despotism of the Axis alliance of World War Two, and not given all they had to give in order to secure complete and total victory?!

Where would the world be today if America’s Founding Fathers had chosen simply to conform rather than to take a stand against the tyranny of the King of England, and had not boldly produced the Declaration of Independence?!

Where would the world be today if Christopher Columbus had chosen simply to conform rather than to take a stand against the ignorance of those who held that the earth was flat, and had not boldly chosen to sail westward across the Atlantic ocean?!

Where would the world be today if the medieval barons of England had chosen simply to conform rather than take a stand against the depredation of their rights under King John of England, and had not boldly produced the Magna Carta?!

More to the point, where would we be if the early followers of Jesus Christ had chosen simply to conform rather than to take a stand against the religious pressure of those who rejected their Master, and had not spread the message of the Gospel?!

Given all this, I am forced to ask myself whether or not I, too, have chosen simply to conform rather than to stand up, make myself known, and take a clear and visible stance against the powers of darkness in this world?!

Let’s face it… At the end of the day, it is far, far easier to put on the proverbial mask of conformity, and then proceed to hide among the axiomatic crowd, than it is to stand boldly for all those things you truly, truly believe in and support.

In the New Testament Book of Acts (chapter 28, verses 30-31), we read: “For two whole years, (the Apostle) Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. He proclaimed the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ - with all boldness and without hindrance!”

Here, Paul proclaimed the Kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ “with all boldness and without hindrance”. May those of us who claim to follow Jesus Christ today do exactly the same!

That is to say – may we be willing to be fully and completely “unmasked” for the Kingdom of God!

POEM SOURCE:

https://jeffgoins.substack.com/p/the-phantasms-that-could-have-been?publication_id=1214650&post_id=138503037&isFreemail=true&token=eyJ1c2VyX2lkIjoxMTcwNzI1MjksInBvc3RfaWQiOjEzODUwMzAzNywiaWF0IjoxNjk4ODc1MjgzLCJleHAiOjE3MDE0NjcyODMsImlzcyI6InB1Yi0xMjE0NjUwIiwic3ViIjoicG9zdC1yZWFjdGlvbiJ9.zGpMoFZz5QYwFW-Q4JgBEW_7jN7mRZx7Rri0NI2dp-w&r=1xp9qp.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/niv/acts/28.htm.

OUT TO PASTURE?

10/27/2023

Although it has been only about four days since my last blog post, it seems like it has been a whole year. And in so many respects, it has – at least for me.

You see, yesterday, I reached a significant milestone as I completed my 61st year of life and turned 62. Many times throughout my life, I pondered what it might be like one day if l managed to live to my present age. Of course, in those days, 62 seemed quite old. But not anymore.

While my children and grandchildren may see me as old, I don’t see myself as such. I may look old; but I don’t feel old. Nor do I think of myself as old. And if indeed, one is as old as he or she feels, then I like to consider myself a youthful 62.

While I received many congrats from many folks, one in particular stands out. My daughter sent me a text recounting a conversation she had just had with her two oldest sons (the first and fourth of my seven grandsons respectively), who are all of 6 and 4 years old themselves:

My Daughter: “It’s October 26, Granddaddy’s birthday!”

Her Six Year Old: “He is 62!”

Her Four Year Old: “Yeah, Yaya (their name for my wife) and Granddaddy are the same size!”

After I had a hearty laugh, I replied with the “I’m laughing so hard I was crying” emoji face. While my wife and I are the same age, we are hardly the same size. She has me by about four months; but I have her by a good eight inches north to south and by an even more commanding 120 pounds east to west!

By God’s grace, out of our respective 62 years, we have had 40 of them together in wedded bliss (along with seven more which we spent dating beforehand). In this sense, we truly are a good balance for one another, despite what the scales say.

While neither one of us knows how much time we have left in this world, I pray we will spend it together. And that it will be filled with as many blessings as the ones so far have been.

But I pray for more. I pray that we will be able to continue spending our retirement years in a productive manner. In my own case, as God continues to give me strength, and opportunity, I hope I can use the talents He has given me to glorify Him and enrich the lives of others, be that though speaking, writing, or whatever other platform He may choose.

I am blessed to be able to spend these latter years of my life out in the country amidst an abundance of farms. But as I walk each and every day and behold the beauty of the pasture land surrounding me, I realize that one must remain vigilant so as not to find himself or herself prematurely “put out to pasture”.

May I be among those the Psalmist referred to as the ones who “flourish like a palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” Of these, (in Psalm 92, verses 12-15) he said: “Planted in the house of the LORD, they will flourish in the courts of our God. In old age they will still bear fruit; healthy and green they will remain, to proclaim, ‘The LORD is upright; He is my Rock, and in Him there is no unrighteousness.’”

These days, I think a lot about a single massive apple tree that once stood all alone out in my own grandfather’s pasture. Though old and weathered, it purely abounded in apples every year of my childhood. In doing so, it enriched the lives of all who ventured by it.

At this point in my life, I am quite comfortable being out in the pasture, as long as I can still bear fruit in my old age, and be a blessing both to my Heavenly Father and to my fellow man. I pray to God that I can and will do so for many years to come.

SCRIPTURE SOURCE:

https://biblehub.com/bsb/psalms/92.htm.

OPEN MY EYES THAT I MAY SEE!

10/23/2023

My precious mother-in-law loves to recite poems she learned way back in her childhood. Earlier today, she let loose on one that I must confess that I had never heard before.

I looked it up and discovered that it was titled “Come, Little Leaves”, and was composed by George Cooper. I recount it here…

"Come, little leaves," said the wind one day,
"Come o'er the meadows with me and play;
Put on your dresses of red and gold,
For summer is gone and the days grow cold."

Soon as the leaves heard the wind's loud call,
Down they came fluttering, one and all;
Over the brown fields they danced and flew,
Singing the glad little songs they knew.

"Cricket, good-by, we've been friends so long,
Little brook, sing us your farewell song;
Say you are sorry to see us go;
Ah, you will miss us, right well we know.

"Dear little lambs in your fleecy fold,
Mother will keep you from harm and cold;
Fondly we watched you in vale and glade,
Say, will you dream of our loving shade?"

Dancing and whirling, the little leaves went,
Winter had called them, and they were content;
Soon, fast asleep in their earthy beds,
The snow laid a coverlid over their heads.

Cooper’s poem beautifully references the unfolding of fall in all of its luster, alluding as well to the inevitable advent of winter.

What prompted my mother-in-law’s recitation was her having just watched my wife and I spend a couple of hours clearing the yard of a week’s worth of fallen leaves. Of course, these days, using a zero-turn riding mower makes that process a whole lot quicker and easier than it used to be back in the day, when all we had was a rake and a ragged out tarpaulin upon which to pile and drag away leaves.

Still, it remains a laborious chore that has to be repeated several times each fall before the tedious process is finally concluded. The entire matter is fraught with dust and sweat and red, irritated eyes and a generous portion of sneezing.

In any event, as she recited these words, I could not help but recall the vivid picture my wife called to my attention recently when she peered out the airplane window as we returned from our recent trip to Florida. In our descent to the airport here in east Tennessee, just outside Knoxville, the view below us was simply stunning.

Everywhere we looked, a magnificent patchwork of yellow, orange, and red trees unfolded beneath us. In the beauty of that moment, the impending hours of getting up leaves out of our yard mattered little. The splendor was too great.

In all of this, I have been reminded that I have a fundamental choice in life. I can focus on the incessant drudgery of recurrent chores or I can focus on the glorious majesty of God in the midst of His creation!

In the Old Testament book of Exodus (chapter 3, verses 1-3), we read:

“Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”

Moses was busy with the mundane duties that fill one’s life. Yet he was sensitive enough to recognize whenever the supernatural was being manifested within the natural. Likewise, I have asked the Lord to help me be more and more sensitive to His power and presence in the world all around me.

In the words of the hymn writer of old, “Open my eyes, Lord, that I may see!”

For most assuredly, few things can be considered as sad as spending one’s life getting up fallen leaves and never once seeing the glory of God on display all around in the vibrant foliage of fall!

POEM SOURCE:

https://www.poetrynook.com/poem/come-little-leaves.

SEE ALSO:

https://hymnary.org/person/Cooper_George1840;

https://hymnary.org/text/open_my_eyes_that_i_may_see.

SCRIPTURE:

https://biblehub.com/niv/exodus/3.htm.

NOTE:

The Bible makes plain that all one has to do is to look at the splendor of creation in order to see the majesty of the Lord.

Cf.: https://bible.knowing-jesus.com/topics/Creation-Showing-God~s-Nature.

LASTLY, CHECK OUT THIS AWESOME FALL FOLIAGE MAP:

https://smokymountains.com/fall-foliage-map/.

<<Previous