Bedknobs and Bumper Stickers

Were you ever out driving and a bumper sticker catches your eye that really grabs you?  I saw one today that did just that.  Perhaps you’ve seen those bumper stickers that say “Visualize world peace”?  Then that gave way to “Visualize whirled peas”.  Today as we were coming home we saw one that tickled both Linda and I.  It said, “Forget world peace, visualize using your turn signal”.  Now THAT’s a concept!!

While blogging I’m watching CSI:Crime Scene Investigation.  Does that qualify as multi-tasking?

On a more somber note, today there was a murder in New Orleans, on our street, across from our house.  For several years there has been a gay couple living there.  They’ve long been suspected of robberies and drug use.  Apparently one of them was stabbed in a lung last night and the other is being charged with 1st degree murder.  It would be so easy to lose sight of who they were and focus on what they were, extracting some measure of satisfaction from the way they have ended up.  I find myself thinking more about them as human beings, however flawed, children of God.  No matter what they may have done in the past, no matter how much of a pain in the butt they were to us as neighbors, no one deserves to die so violently.  And the one who stands accused is well known to have suffered all forms of abuse at the hands of another when he was younger.

I’m not making excuses, I’m just trying to understand something that is impossible for me to understand, because I can’t imagine ever doing drugs or trying to hurt another human being.

Our hearts go out to the parents of the accused.  Through thick and thin they have stood  by him and tried to help him.  We’ve known his parents for many years.  They were, at one time, landlords for “little grandma”.  Nice people, hard working, kind, and generous.  As hard as it is to imagine committing a crime such as this, it is equally hard to imagine the pain the parents are now experiencing.

Please join me in prayer for the repose of the soul of the deceased, and for the parents and their son.  Please also pray for the family of the deceased man.  A season of Joy has become for all those involved a season of Sadness.  May God be with them.

- Dean