The Gross National Debt

Thursday, December 15, 2011

Sharing the water

.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
What are the three most powerful words in the English language?

Before you answer, I  tell you, Actions speak louder than words.
Yep.

Now your answer?

Bet you got it wrong. The Rev. John Burnett told me the answer years ago:

Let Me Help.

Three simple words.

If you've got a problem, I don't care what it is
If you need a hand, I can assure you this
I can help, I've got two strong arms, I can help
It would sure do me good to do you good,
Let me help.
Billy Swan

How many times have you uttered those words? How often have you reached out to someone in need with this offer?

Now, how many times have you not really meant those words? If the person you offered to help called on you, would you help?

Ah.

Chances are better than good than when you offer to help, it's low grade fertilizer. A trite banality uttered in the moment as a social lubricant, devoid of semantic content. In other words, you don't mean it.

As some of you know, my brother is in Atlanta with his son Jake. Jake is having cardiac problems and has been in Egleston Hospital for a few weeks now. Probably won't be home until after Christmas. Things are looking way way way way up from when they got there, btw.

Our extended family has folks in Atlanta. Some have called and offered to help any way they could. Shag asked for help.

They backtracked so fast I think they might have stripped their internal transmission.

I expect no less from them. It's the way they live, it's who they are and what they do.

Switch locations to other family members who are in S. Georgia, more than two hours away from Atlanta. There has not been a request for help issued and yet help is coming in.

I expect no less from them. It's the way they live, it's who they are and what they do.

If you offer to help and when help is requested you back out, what does that say about you? If you are one of those kind of people, I think you should run for office. Liars and hypocrites abound in Washington so you'd fit right in.

If you are one of those people who doesn't wait to be asked before you pitch in to help, then stay right where you are and keep doing what you are doing. We need more people like you this old world.

1 comment:

  1. Ben, I am honored to be mentioned in the pork brains and milk gravy blog. It is very inspiring to see anyone remember a sermon the next week, much less 12 years later! You are a true friend and a blessed man.

    Christ laid it on the line verbally 2000 years ago, but we make it sound so churchy instead of earthy these days. He spoke real truth, (sometimes shocking truth) just like I see you doing. Keep it up, and Merry Christmas!!

    ReplyDelete

Hi. I welcome lively debate. Attack the argument. Go after a person in the thread, your comments will not be posted.