Christian Living

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Larry Lilly's Letter Thursday June 26, 2008

The Apostle Paul stated that he had learned to be content in whatever state he happened to be. One man said "Well, Paul had never been to Idaho!" Another took a different spin and said, "I have been rich and I have been poor. I would rather be rich." The point is that life has its ups and downs and one secret to enjoying life is to accept the changes, do what you can and fall forward.

Knowing the variations of Paul's statement helps us to develop the inner spiritual power to be at peace in a prison cell as was Paul or a palace as was Paul also. In the time of being broke as Mike Todd called it, you find out who your true friends are. You have much more time to muse because false friends no longer demand your time!

The Hebrews have a neat saying for the reality of life, of course the Hebrews have neat sayings for about anything you can imagine.

"With money in your pocket, you are wise, handsome, and sing well, too."

I have also noticed that lots of bucks do more for the beautification of the fairer sex than a trailer load of cosmetics! Bucks apparently give the girls a rare and gorgeous glow.

The quote from the Hebrews is a good one to keep stamped near your forebrain to aid you to remember that most flattery is not true concerning you but given by some sycophant who wants something you have or can do for them, even though they know in their heart they do NOT have the talent make it on their own or to even remain in a position you could get for them.

We humans, for the most part are slaves to the philosophy inherent in today's Hebrew saying as we think people with lots of bucks somehow know more about everything than the rest of us. A rich man is not necessarily wise and the good Lord knows that were it not for their money many of their friends would then say to their face just how ugly they are. In private their supposed friends refer to them as "My friend, Quasimodo."

I talked with a man one time that had spent much of life living under a bridge. I suppose his IQ would measure far above Mensa requirements. For some quirky reason he just never locked onto the benefits of living in a house or some of the other finer points of our culture. In an offhanded conversation he remarked in his best Seer from the slums tone:

"Larry, know this, your friends are false, but your enemies are real."

This "under a bridge dweller" understood a truth that so many of us refuse to accept. While I do not have any intention of adapting his lifestyle or philosophy; I recognize that he was ulcer free.

I admit to times of longing for the days of many bucks in the pocket, but being considered unwise, ugly and a very poor singer who should not quit my day job, I have time for the grandkids and the world's most precious gifts, the three rescued Muskacanines. Life is good.

Larry Lilly Copyright © 2008 Use with credit.

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