Are you happy? Are you content? Are you if other people aren't? Are you stable? Do you feel secure?

Elton knows all the cashiers.  They all wear name tags, and he makes a point to remember who they are ...even without the assistance of the name tags.

Elton is proud of the fact that he knows everyone. Ann feels her husband overdoes it a bit.

Elton: "Marge, I have to say ...your produce is really fresh today!"

Marge smiles politely, then turns to Ann, "Did you end up giving that guy a ride the other day?"

Ann: "Well, I didn't really want to, but you know how it is ...we have to do the Christian thing."

Marge: "Do you know what was wrong with him?"

Ann: "No, but I'm sure he was going through something."

Marge: "Seemed like it was more than just going through something ...he seemed crazy."

Ann: "Could be ...but I try not let that affect whether I will try to help."

Marge: "You got to be careful though ...though I have to admit he was rather attractive."

Ann: "I guess you could say that."

Marge scans the last item, and Elton hastily pays the cashier ...without mentioning her name and without smiling this time.

As Elton pushes the cart to the side, he begins to question Ann in a dull whisper, "What's this about you giving a crazy man a ride home!"

Ann: "Well, I just felt it was the right thing to do!"

Elton: "You shouldn't go around taking chances with some crazy guy ...or was it just because he was attractive?"

Ann: "That's not the only reason."

Elton: "Well, I'm pretty upset right now about all this."

Ann: "I forgive you."

Elton raises his whisper, "Forgive me??  I'm not the one who thinks it's okay to drive around with attractive crazy people."

Ann: "Oh, so you think I did something wrong?"

Elton: "Yes, and I want you to promise me that you won't do it again."

Ann: "Okay, I won't do it again."

Elton: "Now, tell me ...what ever inclined you to do it in the first place?"

Ann: "Because I felt you were having a bad day. Could you please give me the car keys, so I can fulfill the promise you just asked me to make?"

Marge hollers out, "You're not going to give him another ride, are you?"

Elton hesitates, then looks back at Marge who is doing her best not to burst into laughter. It had all been prearranged between Marge and his wife ...he had really been had this time..

That was an adaptation ...but, what really happened is:

I was picking up some milk after I'd dropped off two of our kids at music.  I was in a hurry ...not that I had to be, but I find shopping at any level burdensome or at least undesirable.

The cashier surprised me by saying, "Did you end up helping that lady the other day?"

I smiled, "I'm not opposed to helping people in need, but you must have me confused with someone else ...I don't recall a woman needing help here."

The cashier did not say anything, but I offered, "Was there something in particular you recall about the situation?"

The cashier smiles, "Yes, the lady was crazy!"

I smiled, "Well, that probably would not have thrown me ...I used to work with the mentally ill."

I was unaware of a lady who suddenly had brought up her few items, next in line.  That lady smiles, "You've probably seen them all."

I chuckled, "I wouldn't quite say that ...I'd rather say that one must first be true to thine own self."

I didn't realize I was quoting Shakespeare ...or probably misquoting him.  And there are a few interpretations of what that saying meant, but I was likely not in line with any of those either. 

I kind of meant: Be true to yourself; do not engage in self-deception ...as to say I can't deceive myself to think I'm immune to a bit of insanity myself, and to be honest, we all can fall into this under the right circumstances ...or should I say, wrong circumstances. I was trying to be a bit humerus, but possibly proved my point in a different way, perhaps appearing crazy to non-Shakespearean ears ...or equally so to well-versed ears.

At this point, it may all fall upon deaf ears.

But, one more point ---the Bible says, "Judge not, that ye be not judged." We can take this and say judging is like pre-judging ...which in turn, we often call prejudice. I would not judge whether a person is crazy, or not. Yet, as my wife would say ...it may be in our best interest to not judge, but to do a whole lot of pre-discerning.

We are not to judge right and wrong through our own reasoning, the Bible provides the reasons for us ...God does the judging, and how do we know, except we read the Bible.  So, the Bible is teaching us, and we learn about God's judging. We are merely asked to discern. We don't judge people, we judge actions according to how they align with God's Word.


Sometimes crazy is just different, remarkably different ...not radically different, unless we are used to doing things wrong ---but, not different from what we continually read about in the Bible.  Francis Chan wrote a book, entitled, Crazy Love ...showing us that our definition of love is often far removed from what it really is.

There was also a dream I had ...

There was an act of terror on an island in the Pacific. A missionary, Joe, was involved in a rescue of a small girl and her mom ...barely being able to get out with the small prop plane.  

Joe did a little bit of island hopping, and was able to get some assistance from other missionaries. His plane had incurred some damage, and he had to wait for quite some time for critical repair parts. Meanwhile, the little girl and her mom had to continue to endure near poverty conditions, but at least were out of harm's way of terrorist activity.

Joe had never experienced seeing such violence before ...he had only read about it.  It so upset him, he could not sleep at night ...and he could not imagine how the little girl and her mom could either.

Joe resolved to have this little Jebunissa and her mom, Jess, brought back to the United States ...and to give them the best of what his country had to offer.  He was certain  that once his church heard the story, they would all jump at the chance to help out. This little girl had lived among the worst this world had to offer ...but, now they would have the best.

When Joe got back to the United States, his church arranged for Jebunissa and her mom to have a very nice home, in a very nice neighborhood ...and they would have nice things too.  They would eat the best, dress the best, and live just like the very best.

Joe was happy ...he never knew when he'd been happier. He was so happy for the opportunity he'd been able to provide for Jebunissa and her mom ...who both deserved the best.  

Joe returned to the mission field.  He felt like in all of the 25 years he'd spent in the mission field, this had been the happiest accomplishment of all.

Joe continued to write a friend to ask about them ...as Jebunissa and her mom, neither one could speak English or write.  Joe's friend wrote that things had changed, that Jess and her little girl had moved into another house ...yet he always wrote that they were okay.

Joe wrote and asked for details, not understanding why they would have moved ...his arrangements had seemed so perfect for the both of them.  But, his friend never seemed to answer the question ...he just wrote that the girl and her mom both missed Joe too, and that things were going fine.

Joe was quite busy, but after three years, managed to plan a trip back to the United States.  He was shocked when he found Jess and Jebunissa were living in very poor conditions.  Joe's friend explained that another woman was living there also, who knew the island language, but also knew English ...so she'd be able to translate any questions and answers either of them would have.

Jebunissa spotted Joe first ....and she ran, leaping into his arms, tears in her eyes.  Jess then ran to Joe too ...and also was crying.  Joe could not compose himself, he was crying so much.  He could not believe what had happened to them ...they probably felt he was responsible for them losing the nice home.  Joe didn't know who was responsible, but he was committed to find out.

The translator offered the first bit of clarity. Onithe said that Jebunissa and her mom did not understand why Joe had left them ...they thought Joe loved them. Neither of them had wanted to stay in the United States ...they'd wanted to travel the islands with Joe, helping other people.  

When Joe had left ...they had not looked forward to being showered with nice things.  Sure, the people were nice, the neighborhood was nice, and the church was nice. But the only one who had ever shown them true love had gone away in his plane ...and if they couldn't be with Joe, they wanted to be like Joe.

*****************************************

Many years passed, and they stuck together this time. They traveled the world with Joe ...in his plane, to island to island and mainland to mainland. They met many people, and many tried to call upon Jebunissa ...as she grew to be a very mature and attractive woman. But, not one of the men understood why Jebunissa wanted to live in such poverty, when she could have much greater things ...so much opportunity.

Even Joe was a bit concerned, "You know, Jebunissa, it's not wrong to want things for yourself.  You've already given more than others give in a lifetime ...yet, you are still so young, and could have a life for yourself."

He is surprised at her answer. Jebunissa simply says, "I want to be happy."

Joe says, "But there are so many ways to be happy!  You can get married, and raise your own children ..."

Jebunissa gets a tear in her eye, "Papa, you are Joe to everybody.  I am mostly an attractive woman ...but you taught me the Bible says the flower fadeth.  They don't know Jebunissa ...they like the bouquet of flowers. I came from a place where flowers were trodden down, and couldn't grow ...that's who I am.  No flowers, but the Word of God came ...and you sprouted a smile on my face because you had God's love.  That's the kind of happy I want to always be ...no fadeth. Smiles where everyone else wonders why ...the best smiles.  Do you understand, Papa?  I don't want happy sometimes.  I don't want happy maybe.  I want happy for sure.  I want to be like you ...and sprout smiles where few would ever think it possible."

Joe, "Yes, I understand my sweet daughter.  Papa loves you ...and never stop telling everyone that Jesus does too."