Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Friday June 1, 2007

I spent a little time the other day listening to a man rant on and on about nothing in particular. I did not talk with him, as it is near impossible to get even a word in edgewise, I just listened and became "afeared" that my innards would drown from the inundation of words without thought. I survived. PTL.

The Great Blonde, upon the termination at last of the "conversation" and the gentleman leaving asked, "Larry, why on earth did you listen to that nutcase?" I didn’t mention that I have made a career of listening to such, but thought this answer might be misconstrued to include the gorgeous wife of my youth, so I quoted Winston Churchill. (No relation to Ward). When you know a lot of quotes, they can get you out of and even better keep you out of water that is more than tepid.

Concerning the listening to such people Winnie wrote:

"The greatest lesson in life is to know that even fools are right sometimes."

As I thought about this statement I recalled a man from the long ago who was, to be kind, simply a pest. He would just walk in and interrupt the day with mostly outlandish ideas, really delusions of grandeur. One day he walked in unannounced and said, "Brother Lilly, (He was as lost as a goose) why don't you go on television?" I said, "Claude, I already have a daily radio program in addition to the load of the church and school, and besides these programs are barely above water financially, and TV is very expensive." Claude said, "Well, your faith is impressive." Two days later this man, slightly removed from Village Idiot, again walked into the studio where I was producing the radio program and laid out a contract for two TV stations, with recording schedule, the air time, and the cost of the first year on the stations with the bill marked paid. He then went out and pestered the local business people in our small town and raised enough money to pay for another year. This was no small sum.

I admit that I still do not pay much attention when people of this stripe are talking, but I am kind and have learned to let key words or phrases perk up the old ear. I have learned over the years that most of what most people say is little more than drivel and I can think my own thoughts while being kind and nodding or grunting as the outpouring of imagined wisdom continues to spill out of mouths connected to a vast wasteland deep in the skull. And every now and then, while I have contributed to their sense of importance by not throwing them out, I will, as a reward from the Patient Deity, be blessed with some word or deed that helps me to win more people, or encourage many who are struggling along.

Years ago I saw a cartoon of a General, inside his tent; outside his soldiers were loading muskets, Indians were shooting arrows and the General was saying, "No, I will NOT talk with a salesman right now." Outside stood a salesman with a new Gatling Gun.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2007 Use with credit.

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