Shade Tree Wisdom 4/28/11

Reporters have gone to the queens class to learn how to curtsy, bow, and drink tea properly. So, I find the reason why that pinkie is extended when you drink tea is not a snobbish invention, it is meant to help balance the tea cup. Try it. It actually does.

One of the high points of any marriage is the exchange of vows, the solemn promises made to each other. Promises that lately seem to have little meaning any longer. That is sad.

Our Lord Jesus once said, “Just say yes, yes; no, no, anything more than that comes from the evil one”. Matthew 5,37.

Poet James Russell Lowell wrote:

“Once to every man and nation, comes the moment to decide,
In the strife for Truth or Falsehood, for the good or evil side.”

The same poet is also maybe best known for these lines:

“Truth forever on the scaffold,
Wrong forever on the throne.
Yet that scaffold sways the future,
And, behind the dim unknown.
Standeth God within the shadow,
Keeping watch above His own.”

In the distant past when people were planning to “make a name for themselves” by building a tower to reach to heaven, God “confounded their language, that they did not understand each other, and left off building.” Genesis 11,7

It seems different people have a hard time understanding each other. Our time seems rife with people talking past one another. An important person makes a speech, and analysts take twice as long telling us what he meant. Any lie is explained with “he misspoke”. Other harsh speech is explained “Oh, that’s just politics.”

That really makes it hard to find out what the truth really is, doesn’t it? Truth becomes especially critical in these times when our country is in a sad state, deeply indebted, so much so that too much of our national product is paid out in interest! And I have not yet heard any politician offer a practical solution to the problem.

BUT, there is good news. We just celebrated Easter, the Risen Savior of the world. This Jesus declared, “I am the Way, the Truth, and the life, no man cometh to the Father buy by ME”. That is truth.

St. Paul makes this statement, ”You can trust God, that what we tell you isn’t yes and no. God’s Son, Jesus Christ, whom I, Silas, and Timothy preached to you, wasn’t yes and no, but in Him there is come and is a yes. For all God’s promises He is the YES that makes them true.”2 Cor. 1,18-20.

I pray you know and accept this truth. Jesus Lives, and is our Savior.

GPD 4/28/11