One of the great phrases of the south is “Bless your heart!” Remember Tennessee Ernie Ford; he was always “blessing your little pea-pickin‘ heart.” Many southern-culture-challenged folks don’t quite know what to make of the term. Maybe, some of you youngn’s don’t quite know what to make of it either. So, it might be a good exercise for us to expand its meaning for all of us. For example, it can be an expression of affection: “Bwess its widdle heaaart.” Although this pronunciation has limited usage, it’s appropriate when speaking to babies and grown dogs. “Bless your heart!” spoken directly to another adult is exuberant shorthand for “Thank you, you’re so […]
From Resume to Obituary
At some point in our lives, we begin developing our résumés, those documented lists of accomplishments and accolades that we deemed noteworthy. Usually the purpose of these documents is to impress a prospective employer or the board of directors looking someone to take a higher place in the company. The résumé is the opportune way you promote yourself to others. Somewhere else along life’s way, the necessity of résumés, along with life insurance, diminishes. How many of us needed a résumé in order to retire? Maybe that would be a good idea: utilizing our résumés to prove to some AARP […]
You Are Here
Airports, hospitals and other assorted large buildings usually have a floorplan map conveniently placed at the entrance. And on that map of gates and rooms, there is that red dot at one end of an arrow; at the other end are the words “You are here”. In a confusing world, it is comforting to know where you are every now and then. Those of us who mark the days passed with a big X-mark have the same experience. Behind today’s date is a string of days crossed off — finished. The current day stares at you and proclaims “You Are […]
Slippery Slope of Sloth
Many of us begin our day with a cup of coffee – thanks be to God and the hands that picked those beans and all the middle folk who got it to the house and the brewing machine. That’s the best cup of all. My second all-time favorite is the 23rd cup that shows up at the end of a psalm by the same name and number. The perpetual problem with this cup of biblical proportions is that it is always spilling and overflowing. The other issue is that the cup owners must put up with all the goodness and mercy that follow them all the days of their lives. And to beat all, […]
A Real Close Call
As the fake snow begins to melt on the original live nativity scene, all is not well in Christendom. The sheep still need tending and the cattle need lowing and the wise men have been forewarned to forget the star and high tail it out of Dodge to dodge Herod’s evil plot to slaughter the babies in Bethlehem. Threatened by the possibility of a political rival, King Herod’s rage turns into a tizzy. He becomes an imperial maniac who feels like this whole Christmas drama about another king being born in his domain was coming […]
Madonna and Child
I have problems with the US Post Office this time of year, and it’s not just the long lines. It’s some of those stamps that make me question the big picture. Fundamentally, I believe in the First Amendment in our country’s Constitution which states that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion…”. The separation of church and state. I happen to be a Christian who lives in this country, but this nation does not ‑‑ and should not ‑‑ have to give any allegiance to my form of faith. So why put a picture of Mary […]
Carols in a Jail
Our children’s choir went to sing in the city jail on the Sunday prior to Christmas one year. I remember it so well and can almost picture that large room holding three layers of cells on three walls. We walked in through the jailer’s office, down the wooden steps. The place was rather dark and dank with some unpleasant smells beyond my olfactory experience at that time. We stood on the rather wet concrete floor, all dressed in our white robes with red bows. And we were all afraid of the unknown. The whole place was lighted by a huge […]
The Singing Christmas Tree
When I was a mere child, the Canton Presbyterians prided themselves on their music programs for the children of the church. Beginning as Cherubs in the singing Christmas tree, we climbed our way through the musical scales to fortissimo in the Junior Choir, led and conducted by our only bachelor preacher, Dr. Charles R. McCain. Doc also played the piano while forcing our small voices to come forth with strange sounds called new hymns. Others had taught us the great old songs for kids like “Climb, Climb Up Sunshine Mountain,” “Jesus Loves Me,” and “If […]
Minding Your O’s
As Christmas looms larger on our horizons, we might discover some childhood urge to behave or improve our attitudes. When I was a kid, we took seriously the musical admonition warning us to “…watch out, you better not cry…you better not pout, ‘cause I’m telling you why…” Santa Clause, etc. Legends abounded about “ashes and switches and bow-legged britches.” And the big boy down the street who wrote dirty words on the sidewalk, put away his chalk come early December. We all began to faithfully mind our parents and our manners during that season. It […]
Inheriting the Earth
This new country was started with refugees daring to get in those little ships and set sail to a whole new world. As early as 1584 a group of English immigrants landed Roanoke Island. The settlement became known as the Lost Colony for obvious reasons, but Virginia Dare became the first “anchor baby” American. The first Americans…aka the Native Americans…had lax immigration laws and were a bit perturbed about the idea that their land had not only been “discovered” by the paleface, but was shortly occupied by a group known as the colonist…aka pilgrims…aka the founding mothers and their […]