Delano Herald Journal

Serving the communities of Delano, Loretto, Montrose, MN, and the surrounding area

Pastors’ Column – 08/27/12



After I had served corn recently at the Cokato Corn Carnival, I tried to find a plastic bag to bring home three cobs for my wife and myself. I looked through the shelf at the corn stand and all I could find was a wax bag, kind of like you would put two hot dogs in.
I grabbed one and went to my fellow preachers, who were buttering corn, and asked for three cobs. As they were putting three in my bag, they accidentally immersed a fourth cob and thought I should take it since I like lots of butter. So, I reluctantly took it and went to my bike.
It was just starting to rain, but that would prove to be the least of my concerns. I started off, with both hands on the middle of my 10-speed bike. Yes, the brakes are lower down, but I hoped I could control my speed without them.
I made it a few blocks, but I noticed the bag was shredding, and the corn was starting to move in my hands with the vibration of the road. I had to grip the cobs a little harder, but did you know that corn cobs are tapered? And when they are buttered, they are very slippery.
I continued “juggling” that corn, and as I continued south, I thought that I was gaining too much speed, so I turned north to cut my speed. I made a U turn and went back – it was then I began to think about the hill in front of our house.
I thought I had better go through the park. As I approached the playground and the end of the blacktop, I knew I had to get off my bike. Do you know, that also is precarious when holding four cobs of corn.
But, I made it, and pushed my bike through the park grass, still trying to save my corn cobs. I was about halfway through the park when I lost two cobs in the grass. Would you believe, they were so buttery that nothing even stuck to them?
I made it to my lawn, and lost a third cob when I hit a bump in the lawn. After retrieving it, I finally made it to my door, left my bike and went into the house, just as my wife pulled into the driveway. We enjoyed the corn together, and I “think” my wife ate the corn cob that never fell.
As I reflect on this “juggling act,” I wonder how the journey would have gone with only two cobs? I suspect it would have been much easier to manage. I thought three was a good number, but who can refuse a fourth, when it is very buttery?
What are you juggling in your life right now? Too many activities? Too many bills? Too many jobs? Or trying to keep up too many relationships? Too much of even good things can become very precarious.
In a land of so many opportunities, perhaps we need to ask the Lord to give us wisdom in how much we try to manage. I think of Psalm 90:12 “Teach us to number our days aright, that we may gain a heart of wisdom.”
“More” is not necessarily better. Try to say no to more stuff this week, lest your juggling becomes all-consuming and you lose sight of the blessings you’ve been given.

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