A Giggle of Girls - June 30, 2021

My An Arkie's Faith column from the June 30, 2021, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

Happy chatter and laughter filled the air as the car traveled along the highway from Mountain Pine to Hot Springs. Excited voices competed to be heard over each other, ending in a crescendo of boisterous giggles. Finally, the decibel level of the chatter settled down to a level lower than a jet plane taking off, but the giggles continued. The Hyundai Sonata making its way down the mountain was filled with girls. My granddaughter had spent two weeks at Summer Camp on the shores of Lake Ouachita, and my wife had just picked her up. Two more granddaughters and their cousin were along for the ride – and the promise of a shopping trip. After two weeks of being apart, the girls were happy to be back together. There were so many stories to tell, so much catching up to do, and so much giggling.

After spending the afternoon shopping in Hot Springs and eating at La Hacienda, they headed home. The girls were still excited and exuberant, and they filled the car with laughter. Sometimes they would simply look at each other and burst into spontaneous giggles. Finally, when my wife got home, she told me, “You may have heard of a murder of crows or a congress of baboons, but this is a giggle of girls. I immediately loved the phrase and started referring to them as a giggle of girls. 

We spent the weekend with family members from Texas, Louisiana, and Missouri. Seven girls, ages eight to fifteen, spent the afternoon together, eating, swimming, playing, talking, and giggling. It indeed was a giggle of girls.

I have often wondered why we have such unusual names for groups of things. We frequently use terms that seem natural, like a flock of chickens, a school of fish, a pride of lions, or a herd of cows. But there are hundreds of obscure names that we never use in everyday conversation. Names such as a parliament of owls, a rhumba of rattlesnakes, a surfeit of skunks, or a charm of hummingbirds. Why does English have these unusual naming conventions? How did we get these names?

My first thought was that there must be a scientific basis, or at least the names were given by people studying sciences like biology and zoology. But when I researched the names, I found that they are essentially linguistic leftovers from the Middle Ages. These terms of venery, or nouns of the collection as they are also known, were first introduced by 15th-century English gentlemen. When these noblemen went hunting, they would devise names for animal groups based on their poetic interpretation of nature. Some of these terms were clever, a charm of hummingbirds, some were obvious, a paddling of ducks, and others were just pretentious, an ostentation of peacocks.

Names for groups of animals were first recorded in books for nobility. These books instructed men on the various aspects of noble life, especially hunting. These books were designed as manuals for young aristocrats, advising them on social graces and activities. A young nobleman needed to know the proper way to refer to groups of animals so that he wouldn’t be embarrassed while he was hunting with others. The Book of Saint Albans, published in 1486, is credited with the first appearance of terms of venery. I am pretty sure that the term “giggle of girls” was not included.

From the time that my granddaughters were born, they loved to giggle. I fell in love with those giggles, and so would you if you heard them. When we giggle together, it is part of the loving bonds we make with each other. We only giggle and laugh with people when we are comfortable. There may be nervous laughter between people who are at odds with each other. But giggling shows that you are very comfortable and at ease. Giggling is an expression of pure joy.

God wants us to experience joy. In Galatians 5:22, Paul tells us that joy is a fruit of the Spirit. I love the way that King David expressed himself in Psalms 16:11 (NET). “You lead me in the path of life. I experience absolute joy in your presence; you always give me sheer delight.” David’s expression of sheer delight in living in the presence of God makes me smile. I can almost hear a giggle on David’s lips. 

Do you remember Eeyore and Tigger in the Winnie-the Pooh books and movies? For Eeyore, no matter what exceptional circumstance came his way, doom and gloom remained the focus. While Tigger, bouncing through life without a care in the world, never perceived anything to go wrong. In our daily lives, it is easy to have the attitude of Eeyore. But Biblical joy is not simply overcoming our inner Eeyore, nor is it bouncing through life in ignorant bliss. We can find joy in facing each day’s ups and downs, knowing that Jesus is on our side. “Be joyful because you have hope. Be patient when trouble comes, and pray at all times.” Roman 12:12 (ICB)

When Jesus was talking to his disciples shortly before his death, He said, “I have told you these things so that you can have the same joy I have. I want your joy to be the fullest joy.” John 15:11 (ICB) Jesus says the same thing to you and me. He wants us to be happy. He wants us to experience joy in our lives. In his final conversation with his disciples, Jesus told them, “You are sad now. I will see you again and then your hearts will be full of joy. No one can take your joy from you.” John 16:22 (NLV) 

Gentle Reader, God wants his children to experience joy and happiness. Just like a father wants his child to giggle, God longs for us to experience a deep-seated, profoundly rooted joy. Joy is not just a nice add-on to the Christian life. It is not the bow on top of the package; it is the package. “God will yet fill your mouth with laughter and your lips with shouts of joy.” Job 8:21 (NCV) Take time today to laugh, giggle, and experience the joy and delight of believing in God.

Don't Just Tour, Explore - June 23, 2021

My An Arkie's Faith column from the June 23, 2021, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

I had almost finished installing the rear door glass in a GMC when the Hummer H3 pulled into the driveway of my shop. “Good timing,” I thought. I had a busy day scheduled, and the Hummer was my next appointment. I was looking forward to meeting the owners, Cody and Kellie. We first started talking about replacing the windshield in the H3 last December, but the timing was never right. Today, they were able to make the drive from Little Rock and get the windshield replaced.

Cody and Kellie have a YouTube channel called Dome Life. They love camping, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking, and just about any outdoor activity. After several years of camping almost every weekend, they decided to start documenting their adventures on video. In April 2019, they posted their first video to YouTube, showing them dispersed camping in the Ozark National Forest and hiking to the Big Bluff on the Buffalo National River. Since then, they have posted over 120 videos. 

Most of the Dome Life camping videos are from Arkansas. I enjoy watching YouTube videos that feature the Ouachita Mountains. When I first saw a Dome Life video featuring Eagle Rock Loop, I was hooked and started watching more. My wife and I look forward to watching a new Dome Life video every Tuesday and Thursday. While watching the videos, I noticed that the windshield in the Hummer had many cracks. Last year, I messaged Cody and told him that he needed a new windshield, and I needed some Dome Life gear, so we should make a trade. He liked the idea, but it had taken some time to make it happen.

As I worked removing the windshield, I visited with Cody and Kellie. After watching so many of their videos, it was like I was talking with old friends. They are so friendly and down-to-earth. They are passionate about Arkansas, and especially the Ouachitas. Cody says, “a lot of people don’t realize you can vacation every single weekend in Arkansas; it’s like a vacation all the time. We travel all over, and Arkansas has some of the cleanest, bluest water in the whole country, and our trail systems and state parks are some of the best. It is amazing what Arkansas has.”

After installing the windshield, Cody, Kellie, and I headed to The Ouachitas to get some lunch while the urethane was curing. We drove my Daddy’s Ford Model A roadster with the top down. Kellie called shotgun, and Cody climbed into the rumble seat. The engine sputtered to life, and we headed downtown. When we arrived, I introduced them to Derek, the owner, who was happy to give them a tour. Cody and Derek discussed ways that they might be able to work together in the future.

As we ate our pizza and drank our superberry tea, Cody and Kellie shared with me their philosophy and plans. They have made significant changes in their lives and are planning on traveling and making videos full-time. They told me that being outdoors in nature is a way to recharge your mind, body, and soul! One of the Dome Life catchphrases is, “don’t just tour, explore.” Cody explained that when people travel, they look at slick brochures with beautiful photos and are often disappointed when their experience doesn’t match their expectations. He said, “instead of being a tourist, explore the areas off of the beaten path and see what adventures the backroads have to offer.” 

Cody and Kellie enjoyed the pizza and the ambiance of The Ouachitas. They purchased roasted coffee to take with them, and Derek gave them a gift basket. They plan on returning to The Ouachitas the next time they are in the area. We drove back to the shop in the Model A roadster with its vinyl seats heated by the sun to temperatures high enough to broil skin. But soon after we started moving, the air rushing around us cooled the seats to bearable temperatures. With the job finished, we said our goodbyes, and Cody and Kellie headed out in the Hummer with its brand new windshield.

I enjoyed spending time with Cody and Kellie and getting to know them. I found that we have a lot of the same philosophies and ideals. Their love of nature and passion for keeping trails, campgrounds, and waterways clean inspired me. Nature can bring me peace in a way nothing else does, even if it is just sitting on my deck looking at the trees and the creek below my house. One of the reasons I love living in this area is that I can be in the national forest surrounded by nature in just a few minutes and feel that I am many miles from civilization. Or I can be on top of a mountain ridge with amazing views that stretch out for miles.

Spending time in nature has profoundly affected my spiritual life. There’s something about a towering tree, a colorful wildflower, or a rushing waterfall that reminds me that my God is awesome! The more time I spend in God’s wonderful creation, I feel that I know Him better. In Psalms 19:1,2 (NLT), David wrote, “the heavens proclaim the glory of God. The skies display his craftsmanship. Day after day they continue to speak; night after night they make him known.” Nature can show us God’s beauty, glory, power, presence, and creativity if we pay attention. In Romans 1:20 (NLT), the Bible tells us that “ever since the world was created, people have seen the earth and sky. Through everything God made, they can clearly see his invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature. So they have no excuse for not knowing God.”

Gentle Reader, whether you are into hiking, camping, kayaking, or just sitting on the porch of a cabin, take the time to explore God’s creation and connect with the amazing God who created it. “Ask the animals, and they will teach you, or ask the birds of the air, and they will tell you. Speak to the earth, and it will teach you, or let the fish of the sea tell you. Every one of these knows that the hand of the Lord has done this.” Job 12:7-9 (NCV) Nature is a witness of God’s love, goodness, and greatness. But to fully understand what nature and God have to tell you, don’t just tour, explore.

The Least We Can Do - June 16, 2021

My An Arkie's Faith column from the June 16, 2021, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

The sun was beginning to come up as I drove into Little Rock. A faint yellow-orange glow forced its way through the overcast sky. For the past two months, I have been going to Little Rock very early in the morning to pick up the auto glass that I need for my business. My supplier no longer delivers to Polk County, so I have to make two trips a week to Little Rock to pick up my glass. I had a large order that would more than fill my truck and a busy day scheduled when I made it back to my shop.

As we started to load the truck, my supplier’s software system was slow. The warehouse employee enters each piece of glass into the software to bill me and take the glass out of inventory. What should have taken just a few minutes dragged on for half an hour. I was getting restless thinking about the long drive home and the customers who would be waiting for me. Finally, with every slot in my rack filled and with four side glasses and five cases of urethane crammed in the cab of my little truck, I was on my way home. There was barely enough room for me in the S-10, and it wasn’t easy to shift gears. 

After driving for an hour, I needed to get out and stretch my legs and use the bathroom. I pulled off the road into a busy gas station, parking in the only space available. As I got out, I noticed the sign on the door of the vehicle next to me. It said, “Elmer Beard, Poet.” A spry, older gentleman was walking towards the car. “Are you the poet,” I asked? “Yes, I am.” We exchanged pleasantries and talked about the weather. “Let me give you a copy of my book of poetry,” my new acquaintance said. “I would like that,” I answered. “I am a writer and have a copy of my latest book in my truck. Would you like to trade?” Both of us had to move things around in our vehicles to get to our book. We each signed our books to each other, and after exchanging phone numbers, we went on our way. As he was leaving, Elmer’s final words to me were, “If I come to Mena, I will give you a call.”

As I was driving home, I thought about my interesting encounter with Elmer. He had been so polite and upbeat. He seemed like a man who enjoyed life and lived it to the fullest. It was such a chance meeting at a random gas station beside the road. But Elmer had made a deep impression on me, and I couldn’t get him out of my mind. If I had been able to load my truck without the software issues, I would not have been in the right place at the right time to meet Elmer. But I was thankful that I had. I couldn’t wait until I had time to sit down and read his book. 

That evening, I sat in my favorite turquoise Adirondack chair on my deck and started to read Elmer’s book of poetry. The cover has a photo of Elmer in an old Ford pickup from the early sixties. The title is “Let Reason Roll: Race, Religion & Reflections. I was intrigued by the author title at the bottom of the book; Poetry by Elmer Beard The Octo Griot. From the book, I learned that Elmer is in his eighties. Octo is the Latin prefix for the number eight, so that part made sense, but what about the griot. A quick internet search led me to the answer. The Oxford Dictionary lists the definition of griot as “a member of a class of traveling poets, musicians, and storytellers who maintain a tradition of oral history in parts of West Africa.”

As I read his poetry, It seemed like I began to know him as a man. Elmer has a way of exposing his inner self through simple words. He tackles tough topics with gentleness and the insight of someone who has gained wisdom from his life experience. The friendly, unassuming black octogenarian grew up in the small southern town of Chidester, Arkansas. He earned degrees from Arkansas Baptist College and Henderson State University and spent many years as a teacher. He ended his teaching career as an adjunct English professor at Arkansas Baptist College and National Park College in Hot Springs. In addition, Elmer made a difference in his community by serving for sixteen years on the Hot Springs City Council.  

As I finished the book, I kept going back and rereading one short, simple poem titled “The Least We Can Do.” Elmer’s words kept going through my mind as I longed for a world that followed the simple concept of the poem. “I am who I am. And so are you. Courtesy is costless. The opposite is expensive. Respect is deserved. The least we can do. Is be kind and gentle. Regardless of values. Or our experiences. That’s the least. We can do.”

People who are kind and gentle have the potential to be rude or proud, but they have deliberately decided not to behave that way. They have intentionally chosen gentleness. That takes more strength than it does to treat others harshly. In his book Grace for the Moment, Max Lucado offers a pledge that we could all make our own: “Nothing is won by force. I choose to be gentle. If I raise my voice, may it be only in praise. If I clench my fist, may it be only in prayer. If I make a demand, may it be only of myself.”

For us as Christians, it is the least we can do. Galatians 5:22,23 (KJV) says, “the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law.” Gentleness is a fruit of the Spirit. When we see harshness and hate for others among Christians, we can see that they are not living in the Spirit. “Just as you can identify a tree by its fruit, so you can identify people by their actions.” Matthew 7:20 (NLT)

Gentle Reader, gentleness is a strong hand with a soft touch. It is a tender, compassionate approach to others, even those who are different from us. “Kindness, peace, love—may they never stop blooming in you and from you.” Jude 1:2 (VOICE) I leave you with the words of the Octo Griot, “I am who I am. And so are you. Courtesy is costless. The opposite is expensive. Respect is deserved. The least we can do. Is be kind and gentle. Regardless of values. Or our experiences. That’s the least. We can do.”

Physical Therapy - June 9, 2021

My An Arkie's Faith column from the June 9, 2021, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

“Ouch,” I exclaimed as I struggled to get out of my chair. The pain in my left leg was excruciating. After standing, I had to wait a few moments for my leg to be strong enough to hold me up. This difficulty in getting out of a chair had become my new routine, and I was tired of it. I had suffered from arthritis pain in my knees for several years, but this was so much more. For a month or so, the outside of my left leg had been numb below the knee. If I knelt or something touched the numb area, sharp pain would shoot through my leg. I needed to find out what was happening and get some relief, so I called my doctor and made an appointment.

When I explained my symptoms to the doctor, he told me that he thought that inflammation of nerves in my back was the source of my pain. After taking x-rays, he wanted more information to make the diagnosis, so he scheduled an MRI. When the MRI results came back, he decided that the first course of treatment should be physical therapy. I looked forward to something that would lessen the pain. But it was several weeks before there was an opening for physical therapy. By the time that I was able to get a therapy appointment, the pain had intensified. 

When the day came for my first appointment, I was a bit nervous. Medical procedures and not knowing what to expect are way outside of my comfort zone. But Adam, my therapist, put me at ease. He was very thorough in his examination and carefully explained everything that he was doing. He showed me some simple exercises with unusual names like “wig wags” and “side-lying open book” and sent me home with instructions on performing five simple exercises that I was to do every day.

My attitude had improved when I came in for my second therapy session. Although I still had pain, I could already see improvement. I felt confident that things were going to get better with physical therapy. Once again, Adam made me feel optimistic as he explained that he thought nerve pain was the cause of my condition. He went into detail about the nerves and what we could do to make my situation better. 

One of the techniques he used was dry needling. It is a treatment in which sterile needles with no liquid inside, that is why it is called “dry” needling, are applied to trigger points in the muscle. Preliminary research shows that dry needling improves pain control, reduces muscle tension, and normalizes dysfunctions of the motor end plates, the sites that transmit nerve impulses to muscles. While Adam applied the needles to the affected area of my left leg, I could feel an electrical stimulation in my left big toe. He told me that it meant he was working on the proper nerve. 

One thing that became evident as Adam worked with me in therapy was how stiff and inflexible I am. I have a poor range of motion in my legs and am not able to bend easily. Flexibility is essential to maintain a healthy lifestyle. If your joints and muscles become stiff from either not being used or wear and tear, everyday activities are more challenging. Stretching and strengthening exercises increase your ability to move comfortably. 

The stretching exercises that I do daily should help me become more flexible. While doing the stretches, I realized that while my legs are not very flexible, I have other issues with flexibility. My body may not be very flexible, but neither is my mind. We often refer to someone as stubborn or headstrong. In a more flattering way, we may refer to them as uncompromising, determined, or persistent. We, as Christians, often look at these traits as positive and they can be. In 1 Corinthians 15:58 (ISV), Paul wrote, “Therefore, my dear brothers, be steadfast, unmovable, always excelling in the work of the Lord.” I believe that the Bible is firm and unchangeable. It contains God’s truth and His principles. But sometimes, that belief can make me very inflexible. 

We may think that we must remain faithful to principles and convictions, regardless of the opinion of others. But many Christians with this mindset bully others or are perpetually angry because they do not like what is going on. I recently heard an acronym that I want to adapt and use here; my apologies, Jeri. These people are cave people, that is, Christians Against Virtually Everything. There is a time to take a moral stand, but we should still be salt and light, and the only way to do that is to be flexible in the way we see things.

Flexibility, the ability to change directions quickly and compromise when appropriate, is an admirable quality. Think what would happen if an airplane pilot refused to be flexible and change altitude or direction when advised of a dangerous weather system. Or think about what could happen if car drivers refused to let other people merge into their lanes. Flexibility is necessary, but how should you decide when to be flexible and when to resist change? 

Maybe like me, many of you suffer from inflexibility. We have figured out how to live our lives and feel that to be victorious Christians we must be determined and uncompromising. The backbone of our beliefs becomes rigid rules and regulations. We are stubborn in our determination to control life’s course and outcome.

Often I have tried to maintain control over my life instead of letting God be in control. I thought I had life all figured out and was sure how God needed to answer my prayers. Yet rarely does life work the way I want it to or think it should. I am too inflexible. I like the answer to inflexibility given by the Christian author, Susan Lenzkes. She says, “there is a cure. Each time life throws us a punch, we can do a deep-knee bend, forcing our muscles of faith, hope and understanding to stretch.” She goes on to say, “Blessed are the flexible, for they shall not be broken. No, that’s not one of Jesus’ Beatitudes, but it is an attitude that makes all the difference in your emotional and spiritual health.”

Gentle Reader, are you a flexible person? Spiritual flexibility comes from exercising our faith and trust in God, not from an unyielding belief. We have to be accommodating and eliminate pride in our rigid rules and regulations. Inflexible Christians are not good witnesses to the world. Trillia Newbell says it this way; “What is so strange to me is people believe that by fighting, they are being faithful. It’s hard to convince someone that they may need to be slow to speak and to tame their tongue if they think they’re right. And if they think they’re fighting for Jesus.” Don’t be a cave person. Make it your goal to be flexible. 

Quiet Reflection - June 2, 2021

My An Arkie's Faith column from the June 2, 2021, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

Silence has spread through the house. The quiet is deafening as I sit typing. Both of my dogs are sleeping, and my wife is quietly working on her iPad. The street in front of my house is empty. There are no cars driving past or neighbor kids playing. Even the birds that were singing with boisterous voices earlier in the day are now silent. 

Just a few hours ago, the happy sounds of children filled the house while the adults talked, relishing our time together. Happy memories lit up the room as we swapped stories, and even as we recalled bittersweet anecdotes, it did not dampen the joyous mood. Memorial Day weekend has been extra special because we have family visiting. It has been a time to get reacquainted with a cousin that I haven’t seen for many years and meet her three children for the first time.

The kids had a great time meeting family they had never seen before. They loved playing on our deck, swinging on the porch swing, riding the joggling board, and especially playing with our dogs. I took them for a ride in the Model A, and they loved riding in the rumble seat. Their favorite activity of the weekend was visiting my cousins’ house and swimming in their pool. The water was cool, but they didn’t mind.

When it came time for them to leave, the kids didn’t want to go. We promised that we would come to see them when we could. They wanted to know if we would bring our dogs, but we told them that our dogs got carsick and didn’t travel well. Now that they are on the road back home and the house is quiet, I’m looking forward to the time I will be able to see them again.

As I reflect on the lovely weekend with family and recall the many stories and memories that we shared, I think about how fitting it was to have those conversations on Memorial Day weekend. Memorial Day is a day for remembering the men and women who died while serving in the United States Armed Forces. We spent a lot of our time remembering family members who are no longer with us. Remembering is what keeps loved ones with us after they are gone. 

A local hero that we remember on Memorial Day is Herbert Littleton. He was a United States Marine who posthumously received the Medal of Honor for saving his fellow soldiers by falling on a grenade during the Korean War.

Herbert Littleton was born on July 1, 1930, in Mena, Arkansas. He enlisted in the Marine Corps Reserve on July 29, 1948, for a one-year term. After the outbreak of the Korean War, Littleton reenlisted. He fought in South and Central Korea from December 17, 1950, until his death.

Littleton earned the nation’s highest award for valor on April 22, 1951, at Chungehon, Korea. He was serving as a Radio Operator with the First Marine Division. PFC Littleton was standing watch when a sizeable well-concealed enemy force launched a night attack against his company. Littleton quickly alerted the forward observation team and immediately moved into position to call down artillery fire on the enemy force. When the enemy threw a hand grenade into his area, he threw himself on the grenade, absorbing its full impact with his own body. He saved the other team members from severe injury or death by his prompt action and enabled them to repulse the enemy attack. Herbert Littleton was awarded the Medal of Honor for his bravery in the face of certain death.

Oliver Wendell Holmes Jr. gave a speech on Memorial Day in 1884. He ended his address with the words, “Our dead brothers still live for us, and bid us think of life, not death.” I believe that Holmes’ proposition to “think of life, not death” honors the fallen soldiers such as Herbert Littleton. Their sacrifice follows the example of Jesus, who gave His life for our freedom. The sacrifice that Littleton made for his comrades in arms and the sacrifice that Jesus made for you and me both show a selfless love for others.

The Bible describes this type of real love in John 15: 13 (NKJV) “Greater love has no one than this, than to lay down one’s life for his friends.” And also, in 1 John 3:16 (NLT), “We know what real love is because Jesus gave up his life for us. So we also ought to give up our lives for our brothers and sisters.” Herbert Littleton demonstrated this kind of love.

Many people sacrificed their lives for my freedom. But how often do I think about what they have done for me? I might think about them for a few minutes on Memorial Day, but they are not in my thoughts on most days. How often do I reflect on the sacrifice that Jesus made for me? Many Christians only think about what Jesus has done for them at times like Easter and Christmas.

In Luke 9:23 (NKJV), Jesus says, “If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross daily, and follow Me.” We need to thank God for the sacrifice of Jesus every day, not just once or twice a year or even once a week. “Through Him, therefore, let us constantly and at all times offer up to God a sacrifice of praise, which is the fruit of lips that thankfully acknowledge and confess and glorify His name.” Hebrews 13:15 (AMPC)

Gentle Reader, we are blessed to be living in a free country. We should honor the soldiers who have sacrificed their lives for the liberty we have. We should also thank God for the freedom he has given us. In Romans 6:22,23 (TPT), Paul wrote, “now, as God’s loving servants, you live in joyous freedom from the power of sin. So consider the benefits you now enjoy—you are brought deeper into the experience of true holiness that ends with eternal life! For sin’s meager wages is death, but God’s lavish gift is life eternal, found in your union with our Lord Jesus, the Anointed One.” I hope that you spent at least a few moments on Memorial Day in quiet reflection, remembering those who sacrificed their lives for your freedom. And every day, it is essential to remember the sacrifice that Jesus made for you. During times when your mind feels cluttered and overwhelmed, be quiet and reflect on Jesus. Quiet reflections can soothe your soul.