Just Between You and Me and the Fencepost

Pour a cup of your favorite brew, sit down at your computer, and let’s chat about a few things. This is just between you and me and the fencepost, so I don’t expect to make any profound statements or start an argument, I’m just saying this is how I see the world, from my viewpoint of a number of decades, and my front room window.

Frankly, I get so tired of intrigue and secret maneuvers and people pretending to be what they aren’t. Don’t you? Being from the South, my family for generations has pretty much said what it meant and meant what it said. Oh, except for learning proper manners and the in-born philosophy of make visitors feel welcome and, for goodness sake, don’t hurt anybody’s feelings.  It’s sometimes a challenge to square that with being blunt and honest, but it can be done. Saying, “Bless his little heart,” after some pertinent opinions may be necessary at times.

Anyway, seems to me, and of course, I’m just a plain-thinking country woman, that all this running around in circles trying to figure out who we are, what we are, where we came from, where we should go, bending rules, and saying, “It all depends on the circumstance” or “It may not be right for me, but if it is for you, go for it”…all this double talk began when we started getting away from biblical precepts and believing that God is the ultimate authority. Common sense would indicate that everybody needs some sort of framework in life that is stable, unbendable, and dependable; else, we just go whichever way the wind blows, and you just try to get a boat to a destination when it is at the mercy of a changing wind.

So, do I have all the answers to the many problems and questions in our society? Boy! If anybody ever didn’t have all the answers, it’s me. My first thought would be to check out Scripture. If the Bible says it’s wrong, I’d say it’s pretty much wrong. But, what about all the heartaches and heartbreaks and failures and disappointments? What about all the things the Bible doesn’t say? The Book of Psalms offers much comfort. And, then, there’s what the Lord says about faith and trust. Sometimes the best answer is just to say, I don’t know, but I believe and that in itself is my answer until the Lord makes it plain.

Anyway, I am rambling this morning. I’ve had two cups of coffee and need a lot more. I’ve put fresh water in the birds’ frozen bird bath. I’ve emptied out more sunflower seeds and the cardinals, purples finches, goldfinches, doves, pigeons, and chickadees are grateful, I’m sure. Oh, and the squirrels! I have six of the fattest, sassiest, most bushy-tailed squirrels in the county. Our ice storm last night fizzled and the school children did not get a “snow day.” I know they are disappointed. Probably, the teachers are too.

Fence posts are not known to gossip, and I make it a point not to, as I hope you do too. Gossip is a tasty morsel eaten with great relish, you know. Only thing is, sometimes it turns sour in your mouth. I do, however, like plain speaking, mixed with trying to see things from another’s viewpoint while not yielding an inch from the plain, unvarnished truth. Now, that’s a big job, but if we try, we can do it.