Shade Tree Wisdom 11/20/08

The headlines scream, “Bailout of Auto Industry in Limbo”. The news picture shows the heads of the Big Three at the hearing table and a congressman asking with a sneer, “We’re supposed to give you 25 billion so you can repeat the same stupid errors you’ve been making for the past 20 years?" The end is not yet in sight.

Many voices say the only answer to resurrect the American auto makers is to declare bankruptcy, that they may emerge better, and stronger companies for the effort.

Other voices say give them the money lest many other related industries go down the tube as well.

I can not say who may be right, but I do know as human beings we are facing problems that seem to be nearly beyond solution. I think of the story about the man they called “Desert Pete”. He is a thirsty cowboy crossing a desert and comes to a pump. Nearby he finds a jar of water with this note, “Don’t drink this water, use it to prime the pump”. Well, Pete is thirsty. The sight of the water is almost too much for him. But he understands what it means to prime a pump, so he carefully pours that water down the pipe, and then, by pumping, he gets water gushing forth to slake his thirst and fill his canteen and refill that jar for the next person. But that took faith, didn’t it?

And that is what these times call for. Faith in the promises of God. “Trust in the Lord with all thine heart, and lean not on your own understanding.”

When Israel was on that desert journey they ran out of water and cried to Moses, who was told when he prayed to God, to strike the rock at Horeb.(Ex. 17, 1-7). He did, and water came in plenty to supply their thirst. But the problem with Israel was they did not always listen to God’s word. So “The word did not profit them, not being mixed with faith” Heb. 4,12.

And that is our danger exactly, we trust things, our selves, our intellect and problem solving ability, instead of turning and leaning on God who created us and said, “I am Thy God, hear me.” Or, as the Father told the disciples at the Transfiguration, “This my beloved Son, listen to Him.” Ah, the blessing that lies there? Let it be yours as His obedient Child.

GPD 11/20/08