Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday January 19, 2007

The other morning my phone rang at 4 O'clock. I hurriedly answered so as not to let the ringing disturb the Great Blonde. I was at the blank monitor trying to permit the Lord to squeeze an article out of this graying brain. I know my brain has always been gray, but now it is really gray. And slow. My brain has no idea of its need for a 10gigahrtz/ram processor, it just keeps chugging along with a 1941 one, tubes and all.

Well, back to the ringing phone, I answered in my very best ministerial voice, sure that it was the emergency room or maybe even the mortician with the news of a passed critic. No such luck, or for the Calvinist, providential blessing. It was a wrong number! The man was trying to call the Bank of America!! Same number, different area code. After apologizing he wanted to know what on earth I was doing up at that time. Did I have cows to milk? I answered, "Thankfully, no, just up trying to convert swill into a readable article that might help some wandering or even wondering soul."

As a rule calls that come at 4 AM are not good. They are from a fireman telling me a members home has burned, someone had a terrible auto accident, or some loved one has went to meet their maker.

An Internet wag sent a statement to me that put a very early morning phone call into proper perspective:

"There are worse things than getting a call for a wrong number at 4 AM. It could be the right number.

Perhaps the above thought will help most of you to return to sleep when you get the early or late wrong number call. I once asked a lady who apologized for having dialed my number by mistake, why she was calling anyone at that time of night. It was 11 PM (very late for me as about 8:45 is my limit) as she answered, "My little girl who is 4 years old just died." She broke down and wept like the world had just ended. For her, in many ways it had. The lady lived in Iowa and therefore I had no way to go and help her. I did pray with her and I thanked the Lord that she had in fact dialed a wrong number.

A few people I know are usually down in the mouth a little each Sunday and Thursday morning due to their failure to have bought the winning Power Ball ticket. I preach against non-tithers buying such things. But over the long haul I have found that I feel better if I concentrate on the very good things the Lord has given to me. I also often thank Him that the Interstate accident that caused me sit in the same spot for two hours did not happen to me.

Paul taught the truth of the value of being thankful:

1 Thessalonians 5:18 "In every thing give thanks: for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus concerning you."

So easy to say!

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit

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