“Literature is a textually transmitted disease, normally contracted in childhood.” ― Jane Yolen

"Couldn't put Humpty together again."

It never gets easier, does it? I have another conundrum for consideration on this Wednesday, February 7, 2018. Humpty Dumpty was not an egg? Do what? Are you kidding? I saw those pictures in the book from when I was a little kid. He was always pictured as an egg. Now they tell me the story never indicated an egg was involved. The egg imagery came into being with the publishing of the novel, 'Through the Looking Glass' by Lewis Carroll in 1872. One of the main theories of the true identity of Humpty is that of a cannon. Supposedly, during a war in the mid-1600's, a huge, heavy cannon was mounted on a wall. It was nicknamed Humpty Dumpty. The enemy hit underneath Humpty and the cannon fell to the ground below. All the king's men and all the king's horses couldn't get Humpty lifted up again. Another childhood treasure has now been ravaged. The next thing you know they will be telling me that Jack was neither nimble nor did he jump over a candlestick. They really weren't black sheep at all. They were sheep that had fallen into a tar pit. I don't even want to think about the implications of how Jack and Jill might fare when the truth squad takes them on. The next thing you know they will be telling us that Peter Peter was not a pumpkin eater, he really liked Hot Pockets instead. Oh well, it just goes to show you. It's always something. Always.

It's a wonder we survived our childhood and lived to talk about it. My mom, widowed with six children, did the very best she could to raise us up to live as God-fearing people. She would tell us that if we kept crossing our eyes they could get stuck and be that way the rest of our life. And, yes, we were told not to go swimming for at least 30 minutes after we had eaten. Based on the information made available to us, we did think that handling frogs could give us warts. We worried about the accidental swallowing of a watermelon seed since we had been told it could become a vine inside your stomach. A big one for me was the threat that if I kept cracking my knuckles I would get arthritis. That was correct. Only I don't have it in my knuckles yet, just my hips. Today, parents are still telling kids all kinds of stuff. I'm not sure it's a good idea to invoke Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny, and the Tooth Fairy into the potty training process. Here are some that parents use today. I had not heard of these. ~ Sorry, but they quit making replacement batteries for that loud toy. ~ If you are not well behaved while in the drive-through lane they will be giving you a 'sad' meal. ~ Everytime you touch something you shouldn't in the store, a kitten dies. ~ Those stains on the road are from where a kid was run over because they didn't hold hands while crossing the street. ~ If you eat enough vegetables, your body will eventually make them taste like candy. ~ Those bumps on the highway that make a noise when you hit them are there for blind drivers. ~ Those animals you see on the road. They are just taking a nap because the highway is warm. ~ And, we thought we had issues!

Having reached the place that I occupy in life, I do often think about the journey to get here. I read this excerpt about how empty our words can end up being if they are not supported by action. This is from a book written by Robin Sharma, "Who Will Cry When You Die?" Here's the quote, "All too often, we spend our days waiting for the ideal path to appear in front of us. We forget that paths are made by walking, not waiting. Dreaming is great. But thinking big thoughts alone will not build a business, pay your bills or make you into the person you know in your heart you can be. In the words of Thomas Carlyle, 'The end of man is action and not thought, though it be of the noblest.' The smallest of actions is always better than the boldest of intentions." Those we call heroes of faith as given to us in Hebrews Chapter 11, were recognized and singled out as examples for their belief in God, but, their belief prompted action that proved the validity of their faith. Fifteen times in that chapter we read the words, 'By faith', followed by the action they took. With each passing day, I am reminded that talk is important, but, it can end up being just that, talk. The walk is where the story is told. I don't want to leave behind a message of "He talked a good game.", or "He was good with words." May God help us to live in a way that says what needs to be said. Amen. ....More later.