I feel complicit in encouraging RUSHING… I’m just as impatient as anyone… This past Sunday alone I rushed into a store from a made up parking spot, rushed a nice afternoon for a bit before savoring the time, and then later when I was so tired, I kinda influenced the uber eats driver, who was next to me, also waiting for an order, and we peeked at the bag name at the take out place… yeah, he took it and the clerk came out (after a long wait) to see he missed items in another bag… oops… 

The wise observation from yet a third takeout soul, waiting with us, was: “COMMUNICATION [is what’s lacking in society]. If we ask, if we communicate, then we get a chance to learn and respond and agree where we might have disagreed.” TRUE! We should spend more time listening than speaking. Thinking rather than reacting. 

And then he stated the BEST observation of the weekend: “God gave us a brain not a potato in our heads” – ah yes…

Yes, and in hindsight of my potato blight, I’ve seen when I was not so spud-tacular in my thinking nor communicating. Ah yes, I slim cut when I should have steak-cut my potato brainwaves in RUSHING… I spiral cut out of trouble mostly, but I often spliced when I should have just diced more bite-sized time. I mean even the seagulls WAIT for the perfect time to steal your fries.

Thank God that often we DON’T jump out of the frying pan and into the fryer. Thank God for WISDOM. We have the Lord to thank for that… See, when we feel our blood boil, let us try to wait and take conversations and urgency off the heat. Let us potato pancake rather than potato panic.

We rush, I rush. We oops, we yikes, and we get mad. I might brush it off like dirt off a potato, but the Lord actually covers us up (like melted butter on a hot salt potato) covered in GRACE. Thank you Lord for Holy Spirit conviction not condemnation for us all. If we want to finish this race, let us accept your GRACE.

I tried to apologize later for my impatience to the busy overworked wait staff at the take out counter (even if she wasn’t there to witness me and technically I only did a little thing by ignoring that sign that said “don’t step behind the counter” to read a name not mine) and I was thankful she even gave me a free drink for waiting that I should/ could/ would have paid for… But really I should/ could/ would apologize to the Lord for going overboard – as each time I step into a faux pas, don’t guard my heart and allow it to influence my brain, mashing my potato, I appreciate His mercy and grace in forgiveness for our sinful ways. He knows our name, should wait for Him to call it.

Jesus came to bear our sin, bring us back on the path. No matter how minor or major, He’s the judge of the intention, His love weighs the heart. 

Lord, I bow my potato brain and all the sour cream of crud I could stew… I melt cheese over my geeeez… You make my life all gravy. Let me focus more than I fondue. Lord, I love YOU!!! Lord, thank You!!!

Amen…

Please read Proverbs 4:5-13; 23-27 of Solomon teaching his son and us about wisdom:

“Get wisdom, get understanding; do not forget my words or turn away from them. Do not forsake wisdom, and she will protect you; love her, and she will watch over you. The beginning of wisdom is this: Get wisdom. Though it cost all you have, get understanding. Cherish her, and she will exalt you; embrace her, and she will honor you. She will give you a garland to grace your head and present you with a glorious crown.”

…

“Listen, my son, accept what I say, and the years of your life will be many. I instruct you in the way of wisdom and lead you along straight paths. When you walk, your steps will not be hampered; when you run, you will not stumble. Hold on to instruction, do not let it go; guard it well, for it is your life.”

…

ABOVE ALL ELSE, GUARD YOUR HEART, FOR EVERYTHING YOU DO FLOWS FROM IT.

…

Keep your mouth free of perversity; keep corrupt talk far from your lips. Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you. Give careful thought to the paths for your feet and be steadfast in all your ways. Do not turn to the right or the left; keep your foot from evil.