This whole retirement thing has got me pondering on the beginnings of my career. I ended up right where I dreamed of being when I was a young college graduate: working for a prestigious company, in a prestigious job, with wonderful people that I love. It’s been a long run, and I’m glad it’s over, but I have so many great memories!
For instance, there was that time at my first job after college, that I learned the fine legalities of classified advertising. It went like this:
“Good morning, Simpson County News!”
“Yessum, I wanna know if I cud put a ad in the paper that sez this: ‘Who ever’s horse that wandered on my propity at 123 Horse Wandering Lane, if you don’t come git it by next week, I’ll consider it mine.’ Can I do that?”
“Hold on one minute, sir, I’ll check with our legal department.” Who also happened to be the Editor, Publisher, Chief News Correspondent, et al.
When asked, the legal department said “NO, of course he can’t do that!”
“Um, sir? Our legal department advises against this, as you have no legal right to keep someone else’s horse, even if it is on your property.”
Then, there was the lesson on the nuances of prescription versus subscription:
“Yeah, I’d like ta refill my perscription.”
“Sir, this is the newspaper, not Mcguffey Drugs.”
“Yup, I know. My perscription’s perspired.”
“Oh. Um, ok. What’s the name on the account?”
I can’t tell you how many times I laughed and said “Hey, can I refill my perscription? It’s sweating!! Oh, wait, let’s refill it after I get back from the drug store. I have a subscription that needs to be renewed!”
Until one day, as a new bride, in a new, large, metropolitan city, in a new state, at a new pharmacy, trying to get medication I NEEDED, I blurted this (In my best highfalutin “I’m a grown up now, I may be new here, but I know what I’m doing” voice):
“I’d like to renew my subscription…”
Yep, I had made fun of good, down to earth folks, and it came back to bite me on the behind. Course, I guess I had been a horses patooty.
Some people would call that karma. Me? I’d call it a much needed lesson in humility, directly from God Himself. He’s good like that, you know?
“Therefore, God’s chosen ones, holy and loved, put on heartfelt compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience” Colossians 3:12 (HCSB)
“Always be humble and gentle…” Ephesians 4:2a (NLT)
Father, forgive me when I am puffed up and full of myself. Open my eyes to see others as You see them: loved, valued and created in Your image. In Jesus name, Amen
Grace be with you,
