September 9, 2002
DOWN HOME:
Darker mornings are a good thing
___The end of summer is less than two weeks away, and I, for one, am just tickled.
___One reason, of course, is the promise of cooler weather. Vacations are over. Kids are back in school. We should get a break from the heat sometime soon. (OK, so I don't sound like a complete whiner, let me say that I do indeedy thank the Lord we only had one 100-degree day this year. That seems impossible. Miracles never cease.)
___Another reason I'm glad for the end of summer is because church attendance is picking back up. Like I said, kids are back in school. So folks are staying home more and figuring, well, why not get up and go to church?
MARV KNOX
Editor
___I love a nice, crowded church house, don't you? When I was growing up, we always were taught to be quiet before worship service, and I agree with the notion of showing reverence. But the longer I live, the more I appreciate the noise of Sunday morning at a healthy church. The joyful laughter and mirthful conversations of the saints surely sound like music to divine ears. Summer's over; folks are back in church. God bless 'em.
___I'm also glad to see summer end for the same reason I'm happy to see winter end. I'm sick of the same ol' clothes. I know; I know. We're probably a month away from wearing even a light jacket, and sweater-weather is even further off. But the Weather Channel people are starting to talk about "autumn," so we can start dreaming of crisp days and chilly nights and hot chocolate and s'mores.
___But the main reason I'm thankful to see summer end is I feel safer. Now, it's dark when I get in the car in the morning, and that's good. All those folks who do stuff they shouldn't be doing while they drive to work have to wait until later to drive or do that stuff at home.
___You know what I'm talking about. Or maybe you don't. This fellow passed me one morning this summer, and he was eating a bowl of cereal, driving with his elbows. Gave me the creeps. And sorta made me hungry.
___Every few days or so in the summer, I'll see a guy shaving while he drives. One woman was brushing her teeth, and I was glad I passed her before she decided what to do with all that toothpaste.
___Almost every sunlit morning, I see scads of women penciling on eyeliner, brushing on mascara, rubbing on lipstick and teasing their hair. While they drive.
___The really clever ones put on makeup and talk on the phone and drive at the same time. If I had a towtruck, I'd follow them around.
___In the mornings, I check the traffic report and then turn off the radio and enjoy my quiet time with the Lord. During summer, that's harder, because a guy eating Cheerios while he drives is distracting. And he makes a person want to stop praying and start singing "Nearer My God to Thee."
The Baptist Standard
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