Scripture
This is all the more urgent, for you know how late it is; time is running out. Wake up, for our salvation is nearer now than when we first believed.
~Romans 13:11, NLT
Quote
The best way to make your dreams come true is to wake up, get up and get started.
~Paul Valery
When I was a young person, Neil Sedaka had a song called “Breaking Up Is Hard to Do.” I would like to change one word, “Waking Up Is Hard To Do.” For years I got up at 4:00 am. One of the things that inspired me was coffee but now I have no taste for coffee. I do look forward to my hot chocolate but is just not the same. Once I go to sleep, which is not easy, I sleep sound and waking me up can be a chore. I missed a final exam when I was in college because Mother couldn’t get me to wake up. I told my professor the truth hoping he would show mercy, he did not. That little siesta cost me dearly.
Paul is not talking about getting up in the morning; he is talking about waking up from our spiritual indifference. In Deuteronomy 28, Moses warns the Israelites that disobedience to God will bring a curse. A part of that curse is a blind stupor. Moses said, “You will be in the dark, you will not know where you are going; even at noon, you will be like a blind person.” I saw a baby sleeping in the arms of it’s mom the other day and I thought to myself, “Wouldn’t be great to sleep like a baby.” I have battled insomnia on and off for my entire life time. Getting older has not helped a lot. My daddy could go to sleep in five minutes and I have a brother who can do the same but going to sleep takes time for me. Sound sleep is no sign of a pure conscience, it is just a gift. Jonah didn’t have any trouble sleeping and he knew no fear but he was still backslidden and in rebellion against God. A pagan sea captain aroused Jonah but it took a submarine ride in a fish to wake him up spiritually. Those three days of darkness got his attention and got him praying. Unfortunately for we humans, it usually takes something very dramatic to wake us up. Daddy would jerk the cover off and through cold water in your face. You don’t just get up, you get up with passion {anger}. You are ready to fight until you remember, he is paying for breakfast.
I did things backwards today: I did my DBR tonight instead of this morning. This has been a busy week for me and I come home tired and exhausted. I didn’t know if there would be a blog today and yes, it is late. These weather forecasters are comedians. I got up a little after 4:00 and looked out under our street light and there was no snow. I think they just wanted to let the kids out of school. It was cold but no snow to speak of. Due to the cold, there will be no GOLDEN GIRLS tomorrow. Its a disappointment to some of the younger ones but it’s just too cold for the older ones. They will reschedule in LCBS Sunday.
I’m trying to approach the game Monday night as if it doesn’t matter who wins: it is just game, right! Personally, I think we may be shocked. Bama may do better than expected but I am no prognosticator, I thought Auburn would beat Oklahoma. I do think the Big-Ten is over rated and I was not shocked that Clemson won, I didn’t think it would be 30 to nothing. We Alabama fans have got to understand that we can’t win them all but this one is not one I want to lose, BUT if we have to lose one, this is as good of one as we are going to get. Its better than getting beat by Ohio State or Oklahoma.
During the visitation before Tom’s COLS, Bobby Joe Smith introduced me to a man who played baseball at Auburn. I was trying to be nice and make conversation with him {I do not keep up with college baseball} and I asked him about Auburn baseball. He said, “We are not doing that well.” I said, “Who is doing well in the conference?” He said, “South Carolina, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State and Florida.” I said, “That’s good, just as long as an SEC teams wins, we are winning in football and basketball and I just like total domination.” He looked up at me and said, “Just what I thought another arrogant Alabama fan.” I said, “I didn’t say I was an Alabama fan.” You didn’t have to, he said, “All you folks think about is total domination.” He turned and walked away. He hurt my feelings.