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April 02, 2019
by Pastor Chuck SwindollScriptures: Psalm 148
There was once a cricket on the loose in my former church. When things were quiet and still, his wings sang at top volume . . . like at weddings. And funerals. And during long prayers.
There was once a cricket on the loose in my former church. When things were quiet and still, his wings sang at top volume . . . like at weddings. And funerals. And during long prayers. And very early on Sunday morning before the place started jumpin' with cars and microphones and organ preludes.
I looked all around for that critter. About the time I thought I'd found him, I was wrong. So, early one Sunday morning, I decided to let the cricket stay. Who knows? I thought. Maybe there are times crickets need to be in people places just as there are times people need to be in cricket places.
Like out of doors. Surrounded by the sights and sounds and smells of solitude. And rhythmic running streams. And skies so blue it hurts when you stare. And fragrant, wild blossoms that smell of violet. And awesome, jagged cliffs. And soaring hawks. And field mice playing hide 'n' seek. And funny little lightning bugs. And the shrill screams of whippoorwills on misty mornings. You know, cricket stuff . . . so familiar to them they hardly notice anymore.
I've got to hand it to my church-visiting insect friend: He knew the value of variety. The vast majority of his ilk are in a rut. They hang around the familiar, identify with millions of other Jiminys, run with the swarm, and never know what the rest of the world is like. Think of all the things "our" cricket heard and felt that most of the world's crickets won't experience in a lifetime! I tell you, the guy had spunk. He was willing to risk whatever to break with the predictable.
Are you? If you're like most, the answer, unfortunately, is no.
Unless you plan ahead, life will come and go without your making any break with boredom. Not even for a week. Entire seasons and years will pass without a single significant memory being added to your mental museum . . . unless you determine to split from the swarm.
Isn't it about time you made plans to add some variety to your life? To spend time in a completely different setting? Maybe sneak away for a week to the mountains or the desert or maybe near a lake or alongside the crashing surf . . . you know, cricket stuff!
Sometimes crickets need to be in people places, and sometimes people need to be in cricket places.