Listen to your BARK!

Our drive yesterday brought us through the low country of South Carolina, long straight roads which I dubbed the Jesus landing strip as there were easily 4 times as many churches as there were gas stations to fuel up your vehicle. We are in the Sir and Ma’am land and time clicks just a little slower.

Freedom and I rolled into Johns yard which is in the middle of nowhere which means the boy has plenty of space to roam and run…he fetched the ball so much yesterday I think he’s actually a bit sore this morning. But…he slept like a log.

Johns neighbor brought over a bushel and a half of local oysters and we had ourselves a little red neck oyster steam. A hot fire built of very dry oak and some other varieties of stumps burned hot within a cement block pit where we placed a few sections of metal roofing above. The Oysters packed in ice were shoveled on to the surface and covered with a hot towel to steam until they were just about to open. Didn’t want them all to pop open as they would loose all that briny goodness.

We stood around a home made table that had a big hole in the middle to throw the shells. John throws the shells into the chicken coop, the girls love them some oyster shells. I didn’t partake in the hot sauce, but needed the saltines once in a while if I got a rare plump one. I’m not one for raw oysters…but these were delicious.

It was a nice night, just going along with the pace…I didn’t have to do anything but stand there and eat which was a little odd for me, typically I’m the one catering for others. Standing back and watching, I was appreciative of the others efforts.

Getting back to the drive here…I started thinking about all those churches and all those believers. Many of my friends and family are believers of a god. I haven’t gotten there in my life yet to believe in something all mighty and powerful…maybe that will change with more life experience, maybe not. While others would probably disagree…I’m not so sure I need a god? I have my beliefs that people are inherently good, and when they aren’t…there is a reason. I also have a conscience that is sometimes my worst enemy…if my brain won’t shut off when I go to bed it’s either something at work is bothering me, or I realized I treated someone poorly. Those restless nights give me time to figure out how to fix or undo whatever the issue is. I get less bothered when someone treats me poorly but over the years there has been enough of it for me to come up with enough tools to be at peace when it happens. I’ll let you have a few of my Jelly Beans…but that’s all your gonna get from.

My neighbor had a slight emergency the day before I was supposed to leave and I responded to help although I didn’t have the time. Ultimately I laid off the trip for another day to avoid rushing around like an idiot. My neighbors reaction when he realized my time crunch was like “Why didn’t you just tell me you were busy?”, and my response was…”Because that’s not the world I want to live in”. None of us get through this world on our own…everyone needs something sometime. Maybe it’s a shoulder to cry on, maybe it’s help moving something heavy…we all need each other to make this work.

So, church or no church…what are your beliefs that get you through the day? How do your beliefs support being good to others? Do you inventory your beliefs routinely enough to make the impact on this world that you want make? I think sometimes we don’t….we get busy, we get pre-occupied and we get out of focus. When we get separated from our beliefs for too long, life gets out of whack. Church, I think for many is a tool that helps people do their inventory and reset. And if that god, and that place of worship is what helps you…then so be it, I’m a fan. I’m a fan of everything good in everyone I know.

Well…time for me to go, first hot shower since Thursday is on deck…still haven’t figured out the hot water heater…I’ll get it sorted out In time I’m sure. Have a good day all!