I realize that the only stories I’ve written that mention my exploits on the football field describe me as being the ultimate bench warmer, and that may be a little misleading. In fact I am responsible for a setting the field on fire during my playing days. Literally. It happened on a calm sunny day in late winter. Mike and I were into model rockets, and rockets are science right? So we convinced our science teacher that a rocket flying demonstration would be an educational experience for the class. We set up the demonstration on the football field, as I remember it was on about the west thirty-yard line. On the countdown I pushed the button that would heat the ignition wire to light the solid fuel engine. The rocket took off as it should, but than something went wrong, and the body of the ship caught fire, and came crashing to the ground. Ground covered with a long, thick mat of dry dormant Bermuda grass.

That was the beginning of one of the longest walks of my life. After stomping around on the burning grass like a bunch maniacs we were finally able to get the fire put out, at which time the science teacher said, “Smith, you better go tell Mr. Mac what you’ve done.” Notice that. “What you’ve done.” Like I was in this all by myself. Yep, it was a very long walk to the Superintendent’s office. I must have looked like a scared rabbit when I got there because Mr. Mac calmly asked me if the fire was out, and after I told him yes, we simply walked back out to the field so he could have a look, and that was the end of that. Here’s the good part of the story, come springtime there was a beautiful circle of lush green grass marking the spot on the field where my rocket had left it’s mark. It was the first grass to green up, and it was the greenest spot on the field all summer long. Even a disaster can have a positive outcome.

I left you yesterday with Mike’s blistered little finger. A finger that as far as I know has never regained it’s feeling. The thing is Mike has learned to live with it. He knows that he needs to make sure he doesn’t put that finger in harms way because the finger is not able to notify his brain that it is being hurt. BTW, you will remember this was proven in a scientific study conducted by me. I know from whence I speak. Just as the human body can continue to function, and overcome an injury that makes it unable to function as intended, it can still function effectively. Other parts of the body can take the responsibility of protecting the part that cannot protect itself. Friends, the body I’m talking about now is the body of family, the body of my family, the body of your family, and even the body of Christ, his church. Too many times I have seen families, or congregations of the Lord’s body over react to the injury of one of its members. Many times the action taken is more damaging to the body than the original injury.

I personally know one man who lost the use of his arm, and another who lost his arm completely because they made the decision to stop treatment on the injury instead of working to save or repair the damage that was done in industrial accidents. The first man chose to stop surgeries that would enable him to raise his hand as the wrist. As a result he has to use his other hand to place the injured one in position to hold an object. The second man chose to have his arm amputated just below the elbow instead of working to save it. A decision that I know he now regrets, a decision that cannot be reversed. 

As a member of the body I should do everything in my power to protect the other people of the body. I should do my part in helping mend the part of the body that has been hurt, or that has intentionally hurt itself. I must learn that we may have different views or different ways of doing things, but that doesn’t mean that one or the other is not part of the body. (Romans 12, I Cor. 12)

I don’t know if Neil Diamond wrote the song or not, but he is the first I heard sing it. The name of the song is Husbands and Wives, and here are the words.

Two broken hearts lonely looking like houses
Where nobody lives
Two people each having so much pride inside
Neither side forgives

Whoa, it’s my belief pride is the chief cause in the decline
in the number of husbands and wives

I have two more stories to tell you tomorrow. I hope the things I am writing help us all to realize that love for the family is paramount in the church, and the family.

Till next time,

Grump