The Box

A few days ago I came to the definitive conclusion that common sense is not common. I’ve known this for some time, but today there is no doubt in my mind we have a lot of people walking around with not a clue what common sense is. On this past Saturday I was walking across an intersection and I witnessed two examples within seconds of one another of what I’ll call ‘stupidfullery’. Stupidfullery definition is one without common sense.

The first example was a woman driving a car across the intersection that I was crossing with a cell phone to her ears. I’m glad that she wasn’t so engrossed in her conversation that she did recognize that she did have a right turn signal. The second illustration was a young woman who was crossing the intersection with me. She too was on her cell phone and was all into her conversation and started crossing the street only because she saw me crossing. I had to mention to her to watch for the cars where making a left turn across our crosswalk. Apparently her phone volume was too loud because she did respond by looking at the turning cars and thanked be for bringing this to her attention. But she didn’t miss a beat on her conversation that continued throughout her street crossing. Has technology inserted stupidfullery into some people’s heads? I have to laugh to keep from crying.

Okay, let me digress. I have been perplexed for some time by actions of stupidfullery to the point I’d ask “Why God?” I finally came to the conclusion that common sense is not common. For many years I’ve held fast to an analogy about “The Box” that I developed many years ago. The analogy is when examples of stupidfullery arise I would state that that person didn’t open their box.

The analogy that I developed is somewhat comical. In the beginning, before we are born God presents us with a beautiful box giftwrapped with a beautiful bow on top. There are three responses to this present. 1^st – The person looks at the gift and says “Ooh pretty box and places it in a place of high esteem and never opens the box.” 2^nd – The response is that the person sees the box and proceeds to crush it without opening it. 3^rd – This person opens the box and in it is the precious gift of common sense. When I see stupidfullery I now say, “They didn’t open their box.” These analogies although it is sad to realize that there are so many people without common sense it keeps me from being frustrated.  Because you cannot make a person accept a gift.

Without Reverence

I woke up this morning and I would say "I had reverence on my mind." My thoughts floated from the fact of being five generations from being a slave to today’s "ageist antics." I then thought about today’s society’s youth who think it is the responsibility of the older generation to treat them with respect. This is when in turn they do not “first” respect those who have paved the way for them. So... once again I'm back to reverence.

 Since I’m back at reverence, let's take a look at the definition.  - Reverence – noun – honor or respect felt or shown profound adorning awed respect. Webster's Collegiate Dictionary “God is greatly to be feared in the assembly of saints, and to be held in reverence of all of them that are about him." Psalm 89: 7 KJV. With these definitions, man’s and God's reference, I will expound on an act of disrespect at a church I once attended. This act of irreverence was in the wrong place, the church, but it was done in its most reverent position the pulpit.

 A young member in leadership of this church went into the pulpit and expounded his thoughts about how the older people in the church should act towards the younger. Mind you this church is over 113 years in its quest to serve Christ and its community. In short he stated that the older people don't respect the younger people. When I was RAISED it was said that in order to get respect one must give respect. Does this younger generation have some mixed up notion that they truly believe this is the way to obtain respect, just because you have youth? Most of all I do not understand how leadership of this church would allow dishonor in the pulpit sanctified position within our Father’s house.

This example of lack of reverence and respect, even within the sanctuary and its pioneers shows why there is no reverence to God. These pioneers have and are still going THROUGH on their journeys in this life time. Once again if you are giving respect you will get respect.  These forerunners know and show true reverence to God and His house. Youth, children, young people remember where you come from. When you give these pioneers and God reverence and respect you will gain reverence and respect in due turn and time. Without these older people and God there would be no YOU.

Leadership, stand up admonish disrespect. Giving dishonor in God’s house should not be tolerated. Maybe this is the reason why the youth have no honor or respect of position. Young people, how can you say from your mouth how reverent you place the Father God you cannot see but have no respect for the elders you do see? Reverence although it is a state of being also in an action. Showing reverence to those around you is showing reverence to Him who loves you. And once you have supplied reverence you will find respect. This is my idea of “reverence on my mind.”