Should people who cannot read or write be allowed to eat alphabet soup?

Have you ever felt like someone hit the fast forward button and forgot to turn it back to normal play? It does seem that way sometimes, or at least when I think that it's like that, it does give me something to talk about. Just when you think you have your story down and you are sticking to it, well, it turns out that further explanation might be needed. It is Thursday, May 24, 2012, and it's me again with some more stuff for you to think about. I think by osmosis we all look on the 'good old days' through a corrective lens. We all like to think about how that we could fill up our car for less than five bucks and how that a dollar was worth a dollar back then. I read something the other day that really caused me to slow down and think a little more about some of my convictions regarding the past. While much is laudatory about my raising, it seems that when the experts dissect the whole pie of available spending for a family today versus history, well, there are some interesting changes that have taken place. While inflation has done its number, families today that have jobs, have more disposable income especially as it relates to discretionary spending than at any other time in our history. We are able to eat out, enjoy entertainment, and generally use slices of the pie that were pretty much unavailable back in the 'good old days'. This doesn't mean that we are better off, it just helps to remind us that we have to look at the facts before we leap to conclusions. No matter, I still enjoy thinking about when the greatest challenge we teenaged boys had was coming up with one dollar among us so that we could joyride the night away!

The better off - worse off scenario includes many other factors. For folks struggling just to feed their families, talk about discretionary spending is science fiction as far as they are concerned. And, for those concerned about the moral character of our times, well, financial considerations pale in comparison. It's a complex consideration and one that typically needs more than a knee jerk cliche as a response. One thing is certain. People at all times need God and His help. The pattern of God's chosen people, the nation of Israel, comes to mind as it is portrayed in the book entitled Judges. Patterns in life. They made them and we do too. The history of the Judges was one where the people would turn their backs on God and God would allow them to experience the consequences of their rebellion, typically through the oppression of other pagan nations. They would then cry out to God and He would send them a deliverer, a Judge, who would bring revival back to God and His ways, and victory over their enemies. That's a great story of God's responding to His people. Sadly, it was one that was repeated time and time again. Maybe there is an application for us today. It is always appropriate for God's people to turn to Him and return to doing life His way, and to seek His help in time of need. I would say we are living in a time of need. Great need. What say you?

I joke about how I tend to mangle the King's English but I will tell you that our language does have its quirks. I found this little poem written by Lord Cromer and published in 1902:

When the English tongue we speak.
Why is break not rhymed with freak?
Will you tell me why it’s true
We say sew but likewise few?
And the maker of the verse,
Cannot rhyme his horse with worse?
Beard is not the same as heard
Cord is different from word.
Cow is cow but low is low
Shoe is never rhymed with foe.
Think of hose, dose,and lose

And think of goose and yet with choose

Think of comb, tomb and bomb,
Doll and roll or home and some.
Since pay is rhymed with say
Why not paid with said I pray?
Think of blood, food and good.
Mould is not pronounced like could.
Wherefore done, but gone and lone -
Is there any reason known?
To sum up all, it seems to me
Sound and letters don’t agree.

Okay. Maybe that explains it. No wonder I have so much trouble. The good news is that I am not alone and after all is said and done, being able to communicate is the purpose. You think I could use some help on that one also? No doubt. But, I will continue to labor on, and I do hope and pray that you will have a most wonderful day and that God will add His blessings to it. Amen.        .....More later.