WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Asleep at the Wheel

Me: Well, we made it through Hurricane Florence. They cancelled a lot of things that could have probably gone on as scheduled. Maybe they exaggerated the threat.

Flash (my famous dog): I think I heard them say these hurricane deals are hard to predict and the best way to approach it is to be cautious- that whole "better safe than sorry" approach.

Me: Maybe, but I heard somebody say TV people make a big deal about storms so their ratings will increase as people are glued to their sets.

Flash: Well, shouldn't they be watching if their lives are in danger?

Me: Yes, but it really didn't turn out as bad here for us as they lead us to believe it would be.

Flash: Well, it was certainly plenty bad for other folks and their doggies in other areas according to what I've heard.

Me: True. In fact, I've heard some folks say it was so bad that maybe God was asleep at the wheel when the storm hit.

Flash: Really? So in one breath people are saying the threat was overstated, and in another breath they're saying it was so bad it has shaken their faith and trust in God.

Me: Yeah, I guess you're right. Everybody seems to have an opinion.

Flash: And I have one too. I don't care if the weather people exaggerated or not. The fact that we're alive and well is good enough for me. And if the storm wasn't as bad as they predicted, then we should be thanking God, not accusing Him of being asleep at the wheel. And for those whose lives have been devastated, we should be grateful that the TV people sternly warned them of the danger in advance so they could be prepared. And instead of complaining, we should figure out a way to help those people (and their doggies) who could use our prayers and assistance.

Me: That's a mighty long statement for a dog. And a wise one, I might add.

Flash: Maybe you humans shouldn't treat us canines like we're inferior beings, seeing as how we are so intelligent and full of smarts.

Me: Okay Einstein, but may I remind you that you drink from the toilet, chase squirrels you know you have no shot at catching, you bark when a doorbell rings on television, you lick yourself, you wet yourself at the vet, and you eat aluminum foil and puke a few minutes afterward.

Flash: Ouch.

WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Who's in Charge?

Me: I'm nervous

Flash (my famous dog): Why are you nervous?

Me: Because lives are in danger and catastrophes could occur because of the impending hurricane- with people I care about and people I don't know directly in its path- and even here where we live there could be hardships, hazards, and emergencies

Flash: I don't know much about God- after all I'm a dog and the only thing I know about Him is what I hear you talking about- but didn't I hear you say once that God says you shouldn't be anxious

Me: Yes, but this hurricane is big.

Flash: Is it bigger than God?

Me. Of course not

Flash: Enough said

(Long pause)

Flash: Now feed me please. Food only, no water necessary. I already had a nice long drink from the toilet

WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Free For the Taking

     Here's the scene: I'm in my truck, driving on a side road just outside of Lincolnton, NC. That's when I saw it. Bigger than life, plain as day, just off the side of the road. A few seconds it disappeared in my rear view mirror, like a ton of bricks the thought hit me. "I've got to turn around. I can't pass this by." Within seconds, I spotted what looked a suitable spot to turn around. So back I went.
     More about that later. But in the meantime, I've been noticing lately that human beings, sometimes adult ones, will do some crazy stuff to get something free. Case in point: I was at a ballgame recently and some sort of Marketing/Public Relations person started taunting the fans in the stands with a neatly rolled up T-shirt. Who knows what words were on the front of the shirt but no matter, everyone in the stands wanted it. So in what is typical fashion for PR people with T-shirts, cheerleaders with miniature plastic footballs, and rock stars with various articles of clothing ripped from their sweaty bodies, this particular individual put his hand to his ear and beckoned the crowd to holler, scream, and otherwise make fools of themselves in an attempt to entice him to toss the T-shirt in their vicinity.
     He then raised his hands toward the heavens, waving them wildly in an attempt to increase the fervor to even greater decibels. And everyone accommodated his desire. Everyone, that is, except for me. First off, I don't like to be manipulated. Secondly, I was beyond his range, especially considering he didn't have one of those tubes they shoot free T-shirts out of at ballgames and such.
     Why are all these folks acting the fool just for a 5 dollar T-shirt that may or may not have something written on it that they wouldn't be caught dead wearing in public? If I wanted the T-shirt, all I would have to do is boogie on down to the thrift store a year or two from now and I could purchase it for a buck, two bucks at the most.
     I think I know why people go bananas for the T-shirt. Because it's free. We all want something free and we really don't care what it is. As long as there is no cost involved, we want a piece of it.
     Not so fast. There are exceptions. A friend of mine and I were selling items at a flea market some years back and I had this piece of junk styrofoam statue of an ancient explorer of some sort and I knew it was pretty much worthless, so I put a price tag of 25 cents on it, which was pretty much free. After a couple hours, my partner bought it from me for a quarter and put a $5 price tag on it. Ten minutes later he sold it for $3. We laughed our fool heads off.
     Which leads me to my recent journey through Lincolnton. I grew up a few miles away in Cherryville so I can pick on my fine friends there, mainly because they have plenty they can pick on me about as well. On the evening in question, I passed by a three seater couch placed just off the side of the road in the front yard of what appeared to be a nice home. The sign attached to the couch said "FREE", indicating that all you had to do to was stop and throw it in the back of your truck if you wanted it. I returned to the scene not to claim it, but rather to take a picture of it.
     As I drove away, I wondered if this sort of thing happens in places other than the South. Maybe my friends that are Northern, Midwestern, Southwestern, and West Coast can fill me in as to how often free couches are displayed along the road in their neighborhoods.
     The Bible makes it abundantly clear that the greatest gift a person can ever receive is totally free. It is the gift of Grace, which provides forgiveness for all of our sins. There is no cost. Jesus paid that price for us all those many years ago on a cross. All we have to do is accept that gift with an open heart. And in doing so, it will transform our lives now and guarantee that we will have eternal life later with our Lord and Savior.
     Which is encouraging considering that most of us enjoy stuff that's free, whether it be T-shirts, defunct couches, or styrofoam explorer statues. So go bananas, people, the gift of Grace is free, and the Lord is waving it above his head, beckoning you to simply ask for it. And the best news is there's plenty for everyone.