The image of that horrible sight is still vividly burned into the recesses of my memory, though years have wiped out most every other recollection that occurred in my youth. Sleep is often disturbed whenever that face appears so life like in my dreams. Even today I shudder when I see other children faced with similar circumstances. Even though it has scarred me for life, I too am guilty of the same offense. The offense of accusation. The necessity of glaring at one of my children and asking, “What did you do and why won’t I believe you when you tell me?”
The details of the transgression have grown hazy, (it’s still in litigation), but the flared nostrils, bulging eyes, and steam flowing from the ears of the accuser are still crystal clear. Apparently I had been picked out of a line-up and was now having to stand trial for something I obviously didn’t do. My standard defense in these situations was to have a good lie prepared, but this time I was completely caught off guard and had to resort to Plan B, stuttering. I..I…I…uh..I…I..uh.
Seeing that Plan B was failing miserably, my mind raced for some way to get me out of this predicament. Then, like a lightening bolt flashing across the darkened sky, Plan C came into being. Diversion! I needed a diversion. That’s the only thing that would save me. I prayed for a train wreck in the front yard, which would have truly been a miracle seeing as how the nearest railroad track was several miles away. Suddenly, sheer genius was born. “Darrell skipped school yesterday!” And then to ally myself with the inquisitor, “And I told him that he shouldn’t do stuff like that cause it was wrong!”
As the warden rushed off in search of someone else to put on the rack, I mentally pushed Plan C all the way up to Plan A. A good lie is useful, but it can’t even hold pace with a good diversion.
Though I felt real smug at the time, years have revealed to me that I didn’t invent this ingenious plan. Satan has used it from the very beginning, and even today many of us are still running off in the direction in which he has pointed. Take, for example, this wonderful season we celebrate, Christmas. Slowly and subtly, the devil has steered us away from its true meaning. Shopping malls and discount stores now have our full attention. Time has crawled on and Christ has been replaced with an X. Merry Christmas has been changed to Happy Holidays. To be diverse, we have been educated to believe that we can’t be centered solely on the Saviour of the world, but we must celebrate everyone’s belief to be politically correct.
I’m convinced that wise men still worship Him. When we look back and see how the season has changed over the years, we can only suppose that a few years will completely wipe away every shred of truth of the birth of Jesus Christ. You and I can make sure this doesn’t happen by not allowing Satan to divert us from the real Reason for the season.
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