WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: The Road Ahead Can Wait

      It happened a number of years ago but I can still remember the events of that day clearly. As you may know, I have three sons. The event in question took place in the life of one of them. I will not name him directly in order to maintain his pride and dignity. Plus he might concoct some sort of "get even" situation with dad if I revealed his identity in relation to this particular incident. 

     My first inkling that something unusual had occurred was when my gentlemanly neighbor Bob called my home phone and asked if my pre-adolescent son was okay. "Last time I checked he was fine," I answered, without realizing I hadn't checked on him lately. Father of the Year I was not. 

     Bob began to explain that he had witnessed my son crash head on into his (Bob's) mailbox while riding his (my son's) bicycle. Being the kind and gentle neighbor he was, Bob insisted that he wasn't concerned about the mailbox- which he claimed had been easily placed back in its proper position. "I'm not worried about the mailbox, I just want to make sure your son is okay," emphasized he. 

     After asking Bob to hold for a moment, I stepped into my son's room where he was playing some sort of video game and inquired as to the condition of his personal health. He seemed fine and claimed to be okay so I returned to the phone and shared the good news with Bob. 

    "That's a relief," declared Bob, "because he hit the mailbox going full speed." "How could that happen?", I wondered out loud. "Well," said Bob, "It could have something to do with the fact he was pedaling hard and looking through a pair of binoculars when the collision occurred. I don't think he ever knew what hit him. Next thing I know he, the bicycle, and the mailbox were all flailing around in my front yard. It was a sight to behold."

     I bet it was. I hate I missed it. 

     I think sometimes we, like my son, get caught up in looking too far ahead in life when what's most important is what's right smack dab in front of us in the here and now. We worry about the future, which is fruitless, because we can't control the future- we can only do something about the now. We overlook the lessons in the waiting room while impatiently anticipating getting in to see the doctor. Maybe our focus on the destination up ahead of us robs us of the miracles happening at our feet on the path beneath us. 

     The Bible says in Matthew 6:24 to "not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself" and in Hebrews 12:2, it says to "keep your eyes fixed on Jesus". 

     I don't know what the future holds in my life. I'm trying to enjoy every stage of life as much as possible, and not wish away any part of it by trying to rush toward the next phase. I have no desire to return to the past despite the many blessings it has afforded me. And I'm not counting down the days until my sons eventually marry and hopefully turn me into a grandpa. I look forward to those possibilities but to dwell on things like that in the meantime  wouldn't be productive. It would be like traveling around looking through binoculars. Not the best way to live unless you want to end up flailing around in your neighbor's front yard. 

     

WACKY WEDNESDAY WISDOM: Perplexed Furry Ones

      Eavesdrop on my recent conversation with my ever-opinionated and philosophical-minded canine companion Flash- who has become famous as a result of the publication of our conversations, done so without her expressed written consent. (Mainly because she can't write) 

Flash (my famous dog): I'm perplexed.

Me: How can you be perplexed, you don't even know what it means. 

Flash: I'm perplexed because I'm of the canine variety and as a result, am deemed to be of inferior intelligence compared to you human types.

Me: That's because you can't feed yourself, house yourself, clothe yourself or otherwise support yourself. We "human types" have to do all that for you. 

Flash: Well, I don't need clothing so that's not a valid argument, but maybe you've got a point about the other stuff. 

Me: So why are you perplexed, oh furry one? 

Flash: Because, equally furry one- (note extensive hair on your arms and legs- and these days, hairs protruding from your ears and nose)- humans view us doggies as inferior yet we seem to have a lot of important stuff figured out better than you do. 

Me: Okay Einstein, I'll bite. Like what? 

Flash: (First of all, you've taught me not to bite, so you shouldn't either). We know how to get along with others.

Me: What do you mean? 

Flash: There are many types of doggies. Big dogs, little dogs, brown dogs, white dogs, black dogs, yellow dogs, furry dogs, hairless dogs, ugly dogs and absolutely gorgeous dogs (like me). We don't seem to worry or even give a care about our differences. We're just dogs and we all accept each other. 

Me: I guess that's why y'all sniff each other. So you're saying we humans don't accept each other?

Flash: All you gotta do is watch the evening news on that little squawk box you call TV to see that humans have a long way to go in the acceptance department. 

Me: But most humans do accept each other's differences  and do want to get along and play nice with others. 

Flash: Then maybe y'all should start acting like it. Just the other day I heard you read something from that book you call The Word or something like that, and you said- God shows no partiality to anyone, regardless of what they look like. 

Me: Yes, that's in Romans 2:11.

Flash: Then get with it.

Me: Ouch. 

Flash: Don't feel so smart now, do you Mr. Big Britches?

Me: Easy there, oh Ye who drinks from the toilet, barks at the doorbell, is scared of taking a bath, can't fetch a stick, bites the tires when I crank the car, and once got a fish hook stuck in your nose. Mess with me and I'll drag you to the vet for another one of those "invasive" checkups you love so much. 

Flash: I like Momma better than you.