Cathy's Corner - May 29, 2024

My An Arkie's Faith column from the May 29, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

At 8:30 on Sunday morning, several family members left our hotel in Siloam Springs and headed to Cathy’s Corner for breakfast. My family was in town for my granddaughter's graduation. Several of us ended up staying at the same hotel. After a night full of anxiety from storms that produced tornadoes close by, we wanted to go out for breakfast before heading our separate ways.

Cathy’s Corner is a Siloam Springs landmark. We have been eating at Cathy’s for over 30 years. It is the place to be in Siloam Springs on a Sunday morning. I pulled into the crowded parking lot, searching for an open space. A space near the front door opened as a truck pulled out of the lot.

Inside, the restaurant was a beehive of activity. It looked a bit like an Arkansas farmhouse. There were setting hens on the wallpaper and signs that said such things as “Good food,” “Fresh eggs,” and “Friends are always welcome here.” The sign that made me smile said, “I apologize for what I said when I was hungry.”

After a few minutes, the hostess seated us at our table, and we looked over the menu. I ordered the Skillet Surprise, biscuits and gravy, and scrambled eggs. Although the restaurant was at capacity, the food came out quickly, and our waitress was friendly and attentive. She kept my coffee mug full and when I told her I liked lots of creamer, she brought me a tumbler full.

As we savored the last bites of our meals, our waitress approached with a smile. “I won’t be leaving you a check; someone has paid for your meals.” We were taken aback, our eyes darting around the room in search of a familiar face. Our waitress explained that it was a common occurrence. There was a customer who often picked a table and paid their tab. This unexpected act of kindness, like a burst of sunshine on a cloudy day, filled our hearts with joy and gratitude.

After leaving the restaurant, I was still thinking about the kindness of a stranger who had made such an impression on our group. Sometimes, I seem to focus on the wrong things in this world. Reading the news makes it appear that nothing positive is happening. In my life, I am much more likely to focus on bad things that happen to me and my family than on the positive things. Even though there is much evil in this world, many people are doing good things. But we tend to focus on the bad.

While researching Cathy’s Corner online, I found an interesting post on a Siloam Springs community Facebook page. “I was having breakfast at Cathy's Corner this morning with my nephew, and I learned someone was generous enough to pay for our meal. Thank you so much, mystery person. I will be paying it forward for someone else today!”  A comment below the post read, “The same thing happened to me at Cathy’s yesterday morning.”

Someone enjoys making random customers at Cathy’s Corner happy. I wonder how many people have left the restaurant with smiles on their faces, facing their day knowing that there are good people in the world. 

Reflecting on the anonymous benefactor at Cathy's Corner, I realized that such encounters were not isolated incidents. They were part of a larger pattern, a tapestry of positivity woven into the fabric of my life. These encounters, these moments of encouragement, have had a profound impact on my perspective. They inspired me to see the world differently and recognize the abundance of goodness that often goes unnoticed.

While at James Super Save Foods, a customer approached me and told me how happy they were with the windshield repair I had done on their car. I was surprised. That is not the kind of thing that usually happens. Anyone in business knows that a satisfied customer seldom lets you know they are satisfied, but a dissatisfied customer will tell you they are unhappy.

Last week, as they were dropping off their car for a window replacement, a customer asked me if I could buff out a minor blemish on the rear bumper. I told them it would only take a few minutes and that I would be happy to do it at no additional charge. When the customer sent someone to pick up the car, they sent a check for fifty dollars more than the price I had quoted. I told them the check was wrong, but I was told, “She appreciates you so much and wanted you to have it.”

A few days ago, I met someone in Wal-Mart. She said, “I have appreciated the columns you have been writing recently. I like the personal stories.” We are so used to criticism and negativity that when someone gives us affirmation and encouragement or does something special for us, it takes us by surprise. Most of us aren’t accustomed to hearing encouraging words.

Paul understood this when he wrote in 1 Thessalonians 5:11 (NIV), "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.” Elizabeth Harrison, a pioneer in early childhood education in America, stated, "Those who are lifting the world upward and onward are those who encourage more than criticize.” Are you encouraging those around you?

Is there someone in your life who needs to know how much you love them? Is there someone who would benefit from your kind words and encouragement? Don't underestimate the power of your words. Sometimes, we think, “They know I love and appreciate them. I don’t need to say it out loud.” But we must tell them what we admire and appreciate about them. They need to hear it. Your words can be a beacon of light in someone's life.

Gentle Reader, even if you can’t afford to pay for a table at a restaurant, you hold a gift within you that is just as valuable: encouragement. When you share this gift, you are not only uplifting others but also empowering yourself. You are showing God’s love in action. So, go out and encourage someone today. You never know; your words might change their life! 

Colossians 3:12 (ISV) tells us, “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness, and patience.” We can encourage others by being compassionate, kind, humble, gentle, and patient. Who can you encourage today? 

My First Love - May 22, 2024

My An Arkie's Faith column from the May 22, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

In high school, I was too shy to talk to girls. I was almost too shy to talk to boys. When I first went to high school, it was at a private school that only went to the tenth grade. When I transferred to another school at the beginning of my junior year, the only people I would talk to were those I knew from my previous school.

Although I was too shy to talk to girls, that didn’t mean I wasn’t interested. At the beginning of my senior year, a girl stole my heart the first time she walked into Mr. Brost's history class. Because I was so shy, it was almost a year before she knew I was interested. 

I think that God knew that I needed all of the help I could get, so he made it so that our paths crossed in several ways that year. Mr. Brost selected five students to work together each week, producing learning packets for history class. The special girl and I were both in the group. We both worked at the local furniture factory. I worked on the dresser jig, and she made drawers. I would spend my breaks with the drawer makers, but she still didn't catch on.

Just before graduation, I lost my job at the furniture factory. I was accused of doing something I hadn’t done, and the punishment was a two-week suspension. I told management I was innocent, and if they persisted with the suspension, I would never be back. My sense of justice caused me to lose a good-paying summer job. 

News of my trouble with management quickly spread around the factory. When I picked up my personal items from the jig I worked at, there was a soda can with a flower in it. It was from that girl back in the drawer-making section. As angry as I was with the situation, I felt warm and tingly inside because it became apparent that the girl who had stolen my heart at the beginning of the year cared about me.

When it came time for our high school graduation, I still had never gotten up the nerve to ask her out. Finally, I mustered every ounce of courage I could find and asked her if she would march with me when we graduated. She told me she would like to, but she had already told another boy she would march with him. She said she would march with me if I talked to the other boy. Once again, summoning up every bit of courage I had, I spoke to him. He was very gracious and bowed out. I was on cloud nine.

We went to an amusement park on our first date. I don’t handle motion well and quickly get carsick and seasick. As we were riding one of the rides, I kept feeling sicker and sicker. This was our first actual date, and I felt terrible. I didn’t want her to know I was too wimpy to ride amusement park rides. I said nothing and hoped that my nausea would pass. It didn’t. I threw up on the ride, all over both of us. She took me to her house and got some of her dad’s clothes for me to change into while she washed mine. After my clothes had been washed and dried, we returned to the amusement park but didn’t ride anything but the train.

The rest is history. I knew that if our horrific first date didn’t end our relationship, she was as awesome as I had always thought. After a year-long relationship, with five hundred miles separating us, we were finally in the same place at the same time. I knew I wanted to spend the rest of my life with this girl. In June 1975, we married.

I know that high school romances usually do not last forever and that when kids get married in their teens, the marriages aren't supposed to last, but we have proven those things wrong. It is still incredible to go through each day with my first love! I can't wait to see where this journey leads.

Many relationships don’t last. According to the National Vital Statistics System, one divorce occurs in the United States every 36 seconds. For many people, it seems that maintaining that first love isn’t possible. Many Christians also seem to have a problem maintaining their relationship with God.

Maybe your relationship with God isn’t what it once was. Do you remember when you first gave your life to Jesus? It was exciting to know that your sins had been forgiven. But have things changed? You still pray, sometimes. You still read the Bible occasionally. You talk about Jesus, but only if someone asks about your beliefs.

What has happened? Probably the same thing that happened to the church of Ephesus. In Revelation 2:4 (NASB), Jesus told the church at Ephesus, “But I have this against you, that you have left your first love.”

In 1677, twenty-seven-year-old Henry Scougal wrote this to a friend: “The worth and excellency of a soul is to be measured by the object of its love.” Henry Scougal was right: the object of our love, the treasure we passionately want, measures the worth and excellency of our souls.

Jesus is the only one who can measure the worth of your soul. He did it with Peter at their seaside breakfast after Jesus was resurrected. Just days before, Peter had tragically failed at loving Jesus, denying that he even knew Jesus three times. When Jesus met him on the shore, he asked Peter three times, do you love me? 

After lovingly serving him a meal on the beach, Jesus “said to him the third time, ‘Simon, son of Jonah, do you love Me?’ Peter was grieved because He said to him the third time, ‘Do you love Me?’” John 21:17 (NKJV)

Gentle Reader, are you beginning to leave your first love? Was there a time when you were closer to God than you are today? God is calling you back to your first love. He wants you to find your happiness in Him. He wants you to experience that first love. He asks you today, do you love me?

 

The Courtroom - May 15, 2024

My An Arkie's Faith column from the May 15, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

A few weeks ago, while reading the Polk County Pulse, I saw a name in the Polk County Sheriff’s Log that piqued my interest. It stated that this person “was arrested by an officer with Probation Parole on a Body Attachment, a Theft of Property Warrant, and a warrant for Violation of Suspended Imposition of Sentence.”

“I need to call the Sheriff’s Office and find out what is happening,” I thought. Since we were leaving for a trip to Colorado, I made a mental note to call when we returned. This person had conned me out of a large sum of money back in 2021. I had a great time in Colorado, visiting family, celebrating Easter, touring Rocky Mountain National Park, and attending my brother-in-law’s ninetieth birthday party.

We stopped at a gas station in Oklahoma on our return to Arkansas. While I was gassing up the Maverick, I checked my phone messages. I had one voicemail. When I pressed play, I heard, “This is the Polk County Sheriff’s Office. I have a couple of subpoenas for you and your wife. If you could give me a call back, I would appreciate it. Thank you.”

“What could this be about?” I wondered. I hoped it had something to do with the con man who had been arrested. I immediately returned the call and learned that his court date had been set. We were subpoenaed to be in court on his trial date in May. I wanted some justice, and even though I wasn’t hopeful, maybe restitution.

In the fall of 2021, this con man bid to put a new roof on my house. We both signed a professionally printed contract form. I gave him money to buy the fifty squares of shingles needed to do the job. He had six squares of shingles delivered to my house and told me that he would start the work in two days. Instead of beginning work, he called and said he had contracted COVID-19. Many people in our community were sick with Covid then, so I didn't see a red flag. After two weeks, I called him to see how he was doing and when work would start on my roof. He would never answer the phone. I called the number of the other roofer, and he wouldn't answer either.

I decided to take my contract and canceled checks to the police department. They immediately knew I had been conned. The con man was well-known by the police, but not by the last name he gave me. He had used an alias in his dealings with me. I was not the first person in town to be scammed. 

This morning, I walked up the steps of the Polk County Courthouse, wondering what would happen in the courtroom. Sitting in the courtroom waiting for the proceedings to begin, I wondered if I would find justice. Was there any chance of recovering the thousands of dollars stolen from me?

When court began, and person after person went before the judge, I was saddened by the stories of lives damaged by breaking the laws of the land. When prison sentences were handed down, I knew those hurt by the lawbreakers felt a sense of justice. But it was still sad for me to realize that even though justice was served, someone had ruined their life by breaking the law.

After over two hours of court cases, the judge called for a break. I took the opportunity to talk to the prosecutor and see if my con man’s case was on the docket. He told me that it was, and the con man had agreed to a plea deal that included a three-year sentence. Because of the plea deal, my presence wasn’t required in court. Even though I felt better seeing that there would be consequences for the con man’s actions, the court-ordered restitution would take over twenty years to pay.

This is a sinful world, and many people can't be trusted. Con men and women are out there, ready to lie to us and rip us off. Lying is popular today. That's because we have believed the devil's lie that truth doesn't matter. Satan has convinced many Christians that there is no such thing as absolute truth, so there can be no absolute lie. The end justifies the means, and there are no lies, just alternative facts. 

That's the big con, and it started in the Garden of Eden. "The serpent was the shrewdest of all the wild animals the Lord God had made. One day he asked the woman, "Did God really say you must not eat the fruit from any of the trees in the garden?" "Of course we may eat fruit from the trees in the garden," the woman replied. "It's only the fruit from the tree in the middle of the garden that we are not allowed to eat. God said, 'You must not eat it or even touch it; if you do, you will die.'" "You won't die!" the serpent replied to the woman. "God knows that your eyes will be opened as soon as you eat it, and you will be like God, knowing both good and evil." Genesis 3:1-5 (NLT)

How can we ensure we don’t become victims of the most extraordinary con man in history? Knowing how the game works and how it takes advantage of our vulnerabilities is half the battle.  “So put away everything that is sordid, all that overflowing malice, and humbly receive the word which has been planted within you and which has the power to rescue your lives.” James 1:21 (NTE) 

Gentle Reader, con men are all around us. But the original con man is the devil. "He was a murderer from the beginning. He has always hated the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he lies, it is consistent with his character; for he is a liar and the father of lies." John 8:44 (NLT) The Bible advises us to "be sober [well balanced and self-disciplined], be alert and cautious at all times. That enemy of yours, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion [fiercely hungry], seeking someone to devour." 1 Peter 5:8 (AMP) Watch out for con men. They want to separate you from your money. But even more, watch out for the original con man, Satan. He wants to separate you from God. 

Perfect - May 8, 2024

My An Arkie's Faith column from the May 8, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

My phone dinged, alerting me to a new message on Facebook Marketplace. I sighed and pulled my phone out of my pocket to check the message. For the past few weeks, I have received hundreds of responses to my ad for my 1937 Buick Coupe. Most responses are a simple, “Is this still available.” Quite a few make a ridiculous lowball offer without asking questions about the car. Even more, ask about making a trade and send me photos of something I am not interested in. 

But this message is a bit different. “I’m from Austin and really interested. I would love to get more pics of the underneath and door edges. I would love to take a look in person but would like to know what condition it will be in.”  After several messages, he messaged, “We can also get on the phone if you don’t believe that I’m really interested."

We talked on the phone for fifteen minutes while I described the car in detail. “It is an older amateur restoration with some scratches and flaws in the paint, but as far as I can see, the body is solid and rust-free,” I told him. After the phone call, I sent him more pictures of the areas he was worried about. 

A few days later, the man from Austin messaged me. “Could you send me your address? I think we would like to come take a look.” The next day, he sent another message. “We are on the way. We will be there tomorrow morning. We hope to make it into town late tonight.”

The following day, I received another message. “Good morning, sir. We managed to get to Texarkana. We are getting some breakfast now and then driving on. I think we should be there around 11.”

When the Ram pickup with Texas plates pulled into my shop, I was sure they were there to look at the 37 Buick. Two men got out of the truck and introduced themselves. I showed them inside the building where the Buick was stored.

They inspected the car thoroughly for the next hour, taking lots of videos. They were trying to broker a deal with a collector in Germany, sending him the videos and explaining everything they found out about the car. Ultimately, the German collector would decide whether to purchase or not. It looked like the Buick was heading to Germany.

After a detailed and meticulous inspection outside, I drove the car back inside. They wanted to get a better look underneath the vehicle. As he inspected the car, I could hear one side of the conversation he was having over the phone with the German collector. I didn’t understand the words, but I sensed something was wrong.

When he crawled out from under the car, he told me he had bad news. He had found some areas on the floor that had been repaired, and his customer wanted a perfect unrepaired floor pan. He apologized for taking up so much of my time, got back in his truck, and headed back to Austin.

Over the years, I have learned never to count on a sale until the money is in your hand, but this one seemed to be in the bag. Disappointed, I returned to work, trying to put the day’s events out of my mind. But I kept returning to the idea that the customer wanted the Buick to be perfect. And although the car is very nice, it isn’t perfect. Finding a perfect 1937 Buick Coupe would be very difficult, and the price would double or triple what I asked.

As I thought about the missed sale, I realized that far too often, I do the same thing when I think of people. It is human nature to look for flaws in other people. I was raised in a religious tradition that stressed living the perfect Christian life. I was taught that my salvation depended on my attaining perfection. When you have that outlook on life, you constantly see the flaws in yourself and others.

Social media has a way of bringing out the spirit of fault-finding, unlike anything else. We rarely compliment people for their good deeds but quickly criticize them and point out their imperfections. As humans, our first instinct is to point fingers at other people’s problems, sins, and character flaws. Yet the Bible teaches us that looking to ourselves before looking to others is wise. Jesus addressed the issue in Matthew 7:3-5 (VOICE)

“Why is it that you see the dust in your brother’s or sister’s eye, but you can’t see what is in your own eye? Don’t ignore the wooden plank in your eye, while you criticize the speck of sawdust in your brother’s eyelashes. That type of criticism and judgment is a sham! Remove the plank from your own eye, and then perhaps you will be able to see clearly how to help your brother flush out his sawdust.”

American writer and historian James Truslow Adams wrote, “There is so much good in the worst of us – and so much bad in the best of us – that it hardly behooves any of us to talk about the rest of us.” And Dale Carnegie penned these famous words. “Any fool can criticize, condemn, and complain, but it takes character and self-control to be understanding and forgiving!” It is similar to Paul’s words in the Bible: “Make allowance for each other’s faults and forgive anyone who offends you. Remember, the Lord forgave you, so you must forgive others.” Colossians 3:13 (NLT)

In modern times, being critical is almost a virtue. Critical thinking skills are essential to problem-solving, analysis, and reasoning. But what happens when we use our critical thinking skills to attack people? We become fault finders.

People with the habit of fault-finding are so overwhelmed with details of other people’s faults that they can’t see the positive. Our marriages, business relationships, friendships, and families would be stronger if we refused to allow ourselves to be preoccupied with the faults of others.

Gentle Reader, when we continually look for faults, we will always find them. In the same way, when we are looking for good things, we will find them. Finding fault with others is dangerous because you are assuming God’s role! Mother Teresa once said, “If you judge people, you will have no time to love them.” God is the judge, and he alone knows all the facts. Let’s leave it to him. Nobody’s perfect.

All the World's a Stage - May 1, 2024

My An Arkie's Faith column from the May 1, 2024, issue of The Polk County Pulse.

“All the world's a stage, and all the men and women merely players; They have their exits and their entrances.”  These words begin a monologue by the character Jaques in William Shakespeare's play, As You Like It. His speech compares the world to a stage and life as a theatrical performance. 

William Shakespeare's profound understanding of life's many facets is evident in his works. He was not only knowledgeable about the intricacies of royalty, but also about the harsh realities of London's inns and taverns, and the lives of rural folk. His insights extended to the complexities of warfare and diplomacy, among other spheres of life. Yet, it was his unique perspective on life as a theatrical performance that truly captivated him.

As I sat in the audience watching the play Just One More, the words of Shakespeare echoed in my mind, resonating with the scenes unfolding before me. The auditorium at Ozark Adventist Academy was filled to the brim, and even more were watching the live stream from an adjoining room. Witnessing the first performance of the play, written and directed by my granddaughter, Autumn Grant, was a moment of pride and joy. 

In the spring of 2023, Autumn embarked on a creative journey, envisioning a play that would bring to life the extraordinary story of Congressional Medal of Honor recipient Desmond Doss. She spent months meticulously crafting the dialogue and devising innovative ways to portray this complex war narrative on the stage of a small high school with limited resources. 

The story of Desmond Doss is a testament to the power of conviction. Labeled a conscientious objector for his refusal to carry a gun, he believed in the justness of the war and was determined to contribute in his own way. For him, that meant saving lives, not taking them. He trained as a medic and described himself as a “conscientious cooperator.” His story, almost unbelievable in its courage and conviction, was the heart of the play.

Although Doss was a willing participant and felt himself to have as great a sense of duty as any man in his unit, boot camp was not easy for him. He was verbally harassed, with warnings such as, “Doss, when we get into combat, I’ll make sure you don’t come back alive.” Boots and other items flew his way as he prayed at night. He was ostracized by his unit and bullied by both enlisted men and his commanding officers, but Doss held on to his faith and was an exemplary soldier.

During boot camp, some men threatened to kill Doss, the Bible-carrying medic. However, these same men soon realized the value that Doss brought to the table. Doss demonstrated his bravery by treating wounded soldiers under fire during the fighting in Guam, which earned him a Bronze Star for valor. The 307th continued to fight at Leyte, where Doss again displayed his dedication to his comrades and bravery in combat. As a result, he was awarded a second Bronze Star.

But Doss was awarded the Medal of Honor for his heroism at Okinawa on the Maeda Escarpment, known as Hacksaw Ridge. The Japanese had spent years entrenching their soldiers, creating a maze of tunnels in the hill. The Medal of Honor Citation told his story this way.

“He was a company aidman when the 1st Battalion assaulted a jagged escarpment 400 feet high. As our troops gained the summit, a heavy concentration of artillery, mortar, and machine-gun fire crashed into them, inflicting approximately 75 casualties and driving the others back. Pfc. Doss refused to seek cover and remained in the fire-swept area with the many stricken, carrying them one by one to the edge of the escarpment and lowering them on a rope-supported litter down the face of a cliff to friendly hands.”

On October 12, 1945, President Harry S. Truman presented Doss with the Medal of Honor in a ceremony on the White House lawn. Truman shook Doss’s hand and told him, “I’m proud of you. You really deserve this. I consider this a greater honor than being president.”

As I sat watching Desmond’s life story unfold before my eyes, I was amazed at how my granddaughter had woven the elements of his story into an entertaining play. The play was a romance, a drama, and a war story. But even though it was gripping and thought-provoking, it had just the right amount of comic relief.

I wondered how the battle scenes where Desmond saved the lives of 75 soldiers by lowering them off the escarpment using ropes would be depicted. When the battle started, the special effects, including smoke machines, strobe lights, and audio, helped convey the American soldiers' desperate situation. As the smoke cleared, a spotlight shone on the escarpment, showing Desmond lowering a soldier down over the side to the waiting soldiers below.

The soldiers were lowered one by one, and the audience sat silently as the poignant scene played out. After each soldier was safely lowered, Desmond prayed, “Please, Lord, help me get just one more.” These words supplied the title of this incredible play.

When Desmond Doss saved the lives of 75 men on that fateful day in 1945, he had no idea that one day, my granddaughter would write a play based on his life. He didn’t expect to receive the Congressional Medal of Honor. He simply wanted to save just one more.

But Desmond Doss and each of us are on a stage daily. People are watching what we say and do. All the world’s a stage. Paul expressed his feelings this way. “I sometimes think God has put us apostles on display, like prisoners of war at the end of a victor’s parade, condemned to die. We have become a spectacle to the entire world—to people and angels alike.” 1Corinthians 4:9 (NLT)

Gentle Reader, the phrase "all the world's a stage" reminds us that our lives are like a theatrical performance. Each of us has a role to play, and we have the power to decide how we want to portray it. We can choose to be the lead character or a supporting actor. Our emotions, too, are in our control. We can choose to be happy or sad, depending on our outlook on life. 

We have the authority to create our own life's meaning. We are not mere actors playing predestined roles. We are the authors of our own stories. We can choose how we want to live our lives and positively impact the world. “Brothers and sisters, God has called you to freedom! Hear the call, and do not spoil this gift by using your liberty to engage in what your flesh desires; instead, use it to serve each other as Jesus taught through love.” Galatians 5:13 (VOICE) 

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Just One More - Written and Directed by Autumn Grant. Performed by the Ozark Adventist Academy Drama Department