We forget what it is that we’ve read
and regret that we did not as led
We’d rejected life’s food we were fed
Such neglect as we lay on death’s bed
There are smart ways to do things and dumb ways. Most of the time I do things the smart way but sometimes I do things the dumb way.
Why would we graduate if we, repeatedly, do things the dumb ways? It’s a sign along the way and evidence that we won’t. But when we fall down along the way (as humans we always will) and get up and learn from our mistakes and turn the other way it’s evidence that we’re on the right track and we’re getting out of here. And that’s the most important thing in this life, as the enlightened know (yet another sign for the wise).
I locked my keys in my car at work the other day (not very wise, I don’t recommend anyone doing this). I couldn’t rely on the keypad on my car door because it didn’t have enough power to open the locks because this fool left the keys in the ignition for several hours to charge his phone. But the keypad had enough power to open the trunk, so, my co-workers and I climbed into the trunk to try to push the rear seat open but we couldn’t. It was very frustrating.
Another co-worker helped me find the numbers of locksmiths but I called several and they were closed, so, I had to call the police.
A cop arrived quickly and he proceeded to try to open the door but couldn’t. Fortunately, another one arrived who finally opened the lock and I got in and tried to start the car but the car wouldn’t start because the battery was dead.
A co-worker volunteered to jump-start my car and I took out my jumper-cables and hooked them up but the car still wouldn’t start.
One of the officers said to wait a few minutes and try again to let my car’s battery charge with my co-worker’s car.
I waited a minute and tried again and this time it started.
The officer said to drive it on the highway for twenty minutes to charge the battery and I did and it was back to normal.
I’d prayed through this ordeal.
Lately, I’ve been reciting the 23rd Psalm and The Lord’s Prayer before I pray to put things in perspective (and especially to put myself in the right perspective because I can pray for all sorts of dumb things that aren’t in anybody’s best interest and a waste). So, with this episode of the fool leaving his keys in the ignition it occurred to me that it fell under the category of “the paths of righteousness” part of the 23rd Psalm. A dummy with a broken-down car isn’t in “the valley of the shadow of death” of the 23rd Psalm. And it isn’t like “you prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies” of it. There’s no threat of death or enemies with a car that doesn’t start in a rural Pennsylvanian parking lot. But it’s “he leads me in the paths of righteousness for his namesake” because God proved to this vulnerable human how good and powerful he is through the love and resources of my co-workers and the police.
Thanks, again, everybody.