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 “Believe
nothing that you hear, and only half of what you see!” That
was the advice some cynical father gave his small son. Then,
standing him on the table he said, “Jump off, and I will catch
you.”
The
boy jumped, but his father moved back and allowed him to strike
the floor. When the boy began to cry his father said, “1 told
you, don’t trust anyone!” This is not my idea of a healthful
attitude, but I must admit that we live in a deceptive age.
It
is even difficult to believe advertising. We returned from
travels to find some kind of bug in the bathroom. A bottle of
antiseptic was near by — one that claims to kill millions of
germs on contact — and I figured if it could kill millions of
little bugs, it certainly should kill one big bug. So, I poured
some on the varmint. Didn’t seem to bother him. But I will say
I never knew that bug to have a sore throat.
One
of our poets has said, “Things are not what they seem;” and
I think that is true. This doesn’t mean, however, that we must
be deceitful. Nor is all uncertainty the fault of others.
Sometimes we deceive ourselves, by jumping to unwarranted
conclusion. For example, I visited with a rancher and watched
his two sons mix dehydrated milk,
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wash nipples, and hand-feed a bunch of
orphan calves. The wind was cold, and the boys were unhappy with
their lot. The rancher said, “Bro. Turner, these calves will
put my boys through college.”
The
calves looked good, but I expressed doubt that they would make
that much money. The rancher laughed, “I’m not thinking of
selling them. My boys will go through college rather than stay
home and feed them.”
In
the midst of all the world’s deceit, confusion, double-talk
and misunder- standing, there should be an oasis — a people
who’s yea is yea. and who’s nay is nay; who’s word is as
good as their bond. A people who seek to avoid misunderstandings
by open conduct; appeal to God’s word for guidance. and pray
for strength. Brother — sister — if you are not a part of
that oasis can you really say you are serving the divine
purpose?
“Stuff
—” is on the lighter side of life (actually, we never saw
that bug again) but our purpose is serious. Do not “fool”
yourself, and miss heaven.
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