“The subjects of every state ought to contribute towards the support of the government, as nearly as possible, in proportion to their respective abilities.” ― Adam Smith, (1723-1790), known as the 'father of economics' and the 'father of capitalism'.

Happy Friday to everyone! This one finds its home on January 10, 2019. I hear a clock ticking. It's the IRS clock. I hate to mention that, but, it is a reality, and, yes, it is for us retirees as well. It's also time for us to pay our property/related taxes. Here in our area, we pay monthly for our water and our trash service. However, we also pay an annual levy to our water district as a part of our property taxes. I do have to scratch my head on that one. Maybe that's why they all drive brand new vehicles. Just kidding.  I will admit paying taxes is not my most favorite thing. I do remember a number of years ago I taught a lesson on this subject because we were doing a verse by verse examination of the Apostle Paul's letter to the local fellowship of believers meeting in Rome. I had a fellow in my class who was a professional but very anti-government. Very. When I talked about our Christian responsibility to be in subjection to the governing authorities, well, that was too much for him. I pointed out how it was Rome that was in charge when Paul via inspiration wrote those admonitions. He was furious. I further stated we had a duty before God to pay our taxes. He got up and left. He did not return. Here's the passage. I report. You decide. Romans 13:1-7 "Every person must obey the leaders of the land. There is no power given but from God, and all leaders are allowed by God. The person who does not obey the leaders of the land is working against what God has done. Anyone who does that will be punished. Those who do right do not have to be afraid of the leaders. Those who do wrong are afraid of them. Do you want to be free from fear of them? Then do what is right. You will be respected instead. Leaders are God’s servants to help you. If you do wrong, you should be afraid. They have the power to punish you. They work for God. They do what God wants done to those who do wrong. You must obey the leaders of the land, not only to keep from God’s anger, but so your own heart will have peace. It is right for you to pay taxes because the leaders of the land are servants for God who care for these things. Pay taxes to whom taxes are to be paid. Be afraid of those you should fear. Respect those you should respect." (As rendered in the New Life Version of the New Testament) One caveat: I'll not go into it here in detail, but, there are things believers cannot compromise and must not yield regarding truth and God-given convictions. And, yes, taking a stand can and often does precipitate consequences.

Here's what I wrote in my blog on April 14, 2008: ~ At any rate, because I know we all have strong feelings about the IRS, here are some funny quotes and jokes that may help to take the edge off. A tax preparer put this comment in his advertisement: "You must pay taxes. But there's no law that says you gotta leave a tip." A quote from one of our presidents of the past: "Collecting more taxes than is absolutely necessary is legalized robbery." -- Calvin Coolidge. Here's what Albert Einstein, recognized as one of our greatest brains, had to say about our tax system: "The hardest thing in the world to understand is the Income Tax." Then we have the obvious: "It would be nice if we could all pay our taxes with a smile, but normally cash is required." I love this quote from J. Paul Getty, at one time the world's wealthiest individual: "If you get up early, work late, and pay your taxes, you will get ahead -- if you strike oil." Another of our presidents and what he had to say: "Blessed are the young, for they shall inherit the national debt." -- Herbert Hoover. Then we have this profound assessment from President Carter: "The federal income tax system is a disgrace to the human race." Maybe Mark Twain spoke for most folks when he said: "I shall never use profanity except in discussing house rent and taxes . . ." One comedian put it this way: "The wages of sin are death, but by the time taxes are taken out, it's just sort of a tired feeling." Finally, in the words of America's greatest folk commentator, Will Rogers: "The income tax has made more liars out of the American people than golf has. Even when you make a tax form out on the level, you don't know when it's through if you are a crook or a martyr." ~

What a week! I know. Us retired people aren't supposed to have meltdown weeks anymore. We turned that trump card in when we left the work-world, right? Maybe it is an optical illusion or in my case, an optical delusion. At any rate, we have been on the run most of this week. Some of it was routine types of stuff, but, much of it was being busy doing good things. Even when we are doing good things, productive things, even enriching things, they can still stretch our time availability and resources. They can. Take the word of a retiree. They can! We should be glad we are able to keep the candle burning at both ends. (Here's what the Grammarist website had to say: "Burn the candle at both ends is a fairly old idiom. ... To burn the candle at both ends means to exhaust oneself by working too much, going to bed late and getting up early. When one burns the candle at both ends, he is living at a frenetic pace.") I think we can say we did some of all of the above, but, here we are, and I am still able to write about it. A good sign. One would hope! Have a great Saturday and Lord's Day Sunday and I will try, with God's help, to get myself back to the keyboard come next Monday morning. May God bless each one. Amen.   ....More later.