Wally loves soft drinks (along with his daily KFC, BK, and Lays Chips), Coke or Pepsi in particular. A few days ago I told him he should start drinking water because Coke is bad for him. He stopped, looked at me and simply said “Nothing wrong with me.” Then the next day he came in with diet coke. I said “Wally, why do you have diet today.” he said, “better for me”, chuckled, and continued to direct the radio as it sang 80’s music.
This is an intro to my new addition to The Cracker Barrel, this will be a weekly maybe daily post on my good friend and fellow employee... Wally. This man is hilarious, intelligent, and probably the most athletic person I know (he could probably beat Travis in any sport). He does things throughout the day that crack me up, amaze me and put my abilities to shame each and every day. Post a comment telling some story of Wally that you thing is funny or just amazing and I'll be the judge of appropriateness.
Have you ever been driving down the road or walking down the street and seen a homeless man (sorry all you female activists but I've never seen a homeless woman, although I'm sure they exist)?
A) Poor Man- I saw a homeless man today, and it broke my heart as always. I've heard so many stories about how you are not supposed to give them money because they'll go and waste it on what ever made them lose all their money in the first place. I have come to one conclusion. Read the sign. If it says they want food, give them food. McDonald's 'Arch cards are great. I think the card is free and you can put money on them and then give them to someone like this. If it says money... well it kind of comes to a debate. How do you show someone the love of Christ yet help their addiction (I realize that not all homeless people have an addiction)? A New Testament will not provide them lunch but is probably the best thing you can do for them besides adopt them into your family. I challenge you all to stock up on arch cards and NT's, and hand them out to the next homeless people you see, they really need it.
B) Killing The Pride- We will never know what it's like to have nothing. The husbands job in the family is usually to provide the money for the family. It is a pride thing, to try make more money than your neighbor, or to be the one that your family depends on. When this money is not earnable and your family begins to suffer, it kills your pride. These men stand out in the street with a sign that basically says 'I have nothing'. Every person that drives by looks at them with judgment, taking for granted everything that they have. When they see him, their empty gas tank does not amount to the emptiness in his life. As I drove by listening to my $300 iPod, driving my $3,000 car, talking on my $100 cell phone, with $3 worth of gas left in my tank, I could only sit there and think about all that I have. How ironic that the one time I needed it the most, I had no cash. This man was holding the sign in front of his face to keep whatever piece of pride he held onto. He did not want to be seen doing this but who would hire such a man.
We have so much pride in the things we have that we aren't satisfied with what we have. We are constantly upgrading and renovating. My neighborhood is notorious for renovating, you cannot drive down the street without seeing a truck that is moving in furniture, landscaping, or building on to the house. My challenge on this point is to just thank your parents for what they do for you, and thank God for blessing your family.
So my last post told about my window and how I have kept it attached to my car for he past 2 months. Well it finally caught up with me. This morning my parents walk in my room and wake me up with the words every driver wants to hear, 'Your car has been robbed!' both dazed and confused not realizing if it was a dream or a reality, I just sat there in my bed trying to decided whether or not I should pinch myself. I rubbed my eyes instead and realized it was all too real. I went outside to find my entire radio ($170), my iPod ($250) with 850 songs on it ($45-purchased songs), and my FM transmitter ($80) are all gone!?!?!? Wow so we can say I was a little upset, and tired and grumpy al in the same morning. Needless to say we tried everything to get my window fixed as soon as possible, (tomorrow). Lesson learned-The world hates everything and has nothing good to contribute to anything, it looks for wrong things to do. The guy/girl that did this has probably walked by my car every week and was just waiting for me to unroutinely leave all of that stuff in there together, it worked. Lesson 2- Hire a security guard or 2 (so 1 can sleep) my very was parked under a street light (seriously... directly under one). Lesson 3- 'Watchful Neighborhood' signs are lying.
Ok so tonight I was at a graduation party at Kara York's house and it started pouring. I wasn't thinking about it in the rush to go close windows that my window was closed but yet has many holes and is rather useless. When I went to leave, my interior was soaked. I was extremely angry and did not know any way to solve my dilemma. I quote Jeff Foxworthy in saying 'duct tape fixes anything'...EXCEPT FOR IN THE RAIN!! My window has been covered in duct tape for about a month now and it is starting to melt away. I went into Jennifer's house to get a towel and...yes duct tape (it takes faith) to try and fix the problem on my own...apparently God did not want that. As I began to dry and cover the spots, the tape decides it wants to run out...there's not any there except for what covers the cardboard circle...INFURIATING!! So I go in to try and use one of Duckt's brothers...Masking, and he's not a heavy duty guy. As soon as I stepped out the door to go finish the job, it begins to rain profusely, cats and dogs, MONSOON. I run back inside with my nerves about to explode and decide I'll just go home anyways. I get in the car and it dawns on me...pray. Oh yeah I remember that thing, it's worth a try. So I did, I prayed that the rain would stop, hey he's done it before on an ocean why can't he now, and it didn't stop. So I prayed at least don't let it damage anything in my car, he answered that one I think. So I decide to do a little praise and worship with myself and the first song to be played on my iPod was 'Praise You in this Storm'?!?!?!?!?!? WHAT?!?!?!?!?!?!?! I wasn't listening to that song. Anyways I quote the song 'Once again, I say Amen,(finish praying) and it's still raining' hmmmm was there some reason those words stuck out...maybe it's because I JUST DID THAT. 'And as the thunder rolls, I barely hear you whisper through the rain, 'I'm with you' Pray...Then listen ~peace
This post is for comments, I want to get a healthy discussion going here. Why do natural disasters happen? This topic has always been an interest of mine and I'm just wondering what others think. Is God punishing us for something we've done wrong? Is Satan doing something to turn people from God? Is God trying to show he's still in control? WHAT'S GOING ON!!!!
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