Common Sense

For your consideration…….

I had to chuckle when today’s message came in. I chuckled not because of the message but because of the humorous example they gave me as an explanation.

I love to cook. Of course, I did my share of holidays until my oldest daughter and niece, Shannon and Kerri, took them over. As my youngest daughter was growing up we hosted many events for her school, sports and fund-raisers. And I belong to clubs and organizations where cooking is often involved. The point is, I have cooked for a long time, loved doing it and never had a disaster or someone get sick.

My youngest daughter, Alex, left home for the United States Naval Academy and since served(s) in the Navy. She owns a home on the west coast. When she first left, it was important to me that the family get together for a family dinner on those occasions she was able to get home. The last couple of times I hosted, I had lots of complaints on the cooking. They didn’t complain about the taste of the food or presentation. Instead the girls went through my refrigerator and decided that everything in it was no good. The expiration dates were past due. That was the topic of conversation throughout dinner. I saw my grandchildren look around wondering if they should touch their food.

By choice, I have not hosted another family dinner since. We meet at my daughter’s or we meet out. It is ironic that I am always asked to bring dishes. I am not sure what the difference is but for whatever reason, I do not get any complaints. Once again, everyone loves my food.

The chuckle today came from news articles and stories that have been on the news lately about the billions of dollars Americans waste throwing away good food. As they have done investigations, they have discovered that an “expiration date” is put on food because it is the law. There is absolutely no correlation to when food will go bad. Those expiration dates are random dates with no consistency within the industry or between states.

So how do you tell if something is good or bad. They say you do the smell and taste test. You use your senses including your common sense. We used to know that. Our grandparents who grew up in the Depression were very clear on that. Citizens in foreign countries know that. It is just people in the United States whose common sense has been brainwashed.

So that is a very long story to bring up today’s message. None the less it gave me a chuckle.

Our “Common Sense” is a most valuable tool in our life tool box. We were given it on purpose to purposely use it. It is your smell and taste, all of your senses including….your common sense…..that gives you direction. Don’t let anyone else tell you something different.

That is the HOPE. And so it is.

Bit by bit, piece by piece, HOPE by HOPE action steps anyone can do…..

-Meditate/pray….ask….”What is my next step for my highest good and the highest good of all?”

-Drink lots of water.

-Get outdoors and take in at least 10 deep breaths.

-Listen to your common sense.

-Laugh out loud.

What made me smile yesterday……

-We did not expect sunshine but got some anyway.

-Waking up without an alarm.

-Stillwater.

-Talking with my sister and laughing out loud.

-A great corned beef dinner at the VFW with my neighbors, Scot and Holly.

Love, Blessings and Gratitude,

Rev. Chris