Dull boy, dull knife.”
–Elmer Kelton (Llano River)
“Whatever your hand finds to do, do it with your might; for there is no work or device or knowledge or wisdom in the grave where you are going.”
–Ecclesiastes 9:10(NKJV)
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It was nice sitting around the campfire for a couple of days–wish it had been more, but two days out of four are better than none. I was able to do a little contemplation along with some pondering. Some wishing was done, but I’m old enough to know that wishing doesn’t make it so. I had given Garrett a fishing knife for Christmas, but he brought a Cub Scout knife that had belonged to his Dad. He wanted to do some whittling.
With that said, I had to buy Julee a knife so that she could whittle as well. The two could sit there whittling together, but I didn’t realize that Annie was going to join them. I gave her my knife to use. There was a large difference in the three knives. One you could shave with, the other right off the store shelf was sharp, but needed some additional honing. The third needed work. Well, there’s few things more dangerous than a dull knife so I sharpened the other two. I always carry a hone with me when I’m out camping, even if it is more of “glamping.”
While watching them my thoughts went to the above quotation. My isn’t that true! My daughter and I were talking this week over coffee when she said that she was disturbed over the fact that the younger generations want everything done for them. I had to smile and agree with her. I will admit that there are exceptions but looking at the whole load of twinkies, creampuffs, and snowflakes we have been raising there is a problem. Perhaps they were never shown how to use a knife or sharpen one.
In the nearly four decades of teaching and administration I found that a person could tell quite a bit about what goes on at home by watching the child at school. They might hide it for a while but eventually what happens at home comes out someway or another at school. Crude and profane language at home–crude and profane language at school and I will add, especially among friends. Parents griping at home about the preacher, the teacher, the school, the church, and any other thing…guess what? It will show up in the children. The wife whines, the father curses (if there is one) and then little Billy-Bob will do the same with his friends.
Kids, and by that I mean under 35, today bounce around from job to job. They never were taught properly how to “sharpen their knife.” Kids expect a handout from the government. They never read the Bible where it says to pay back your debts, in fact, not to go into debt–they’ve never sharpened their knife. Kids get frustrated with the country, the politicians, the government because they have not been taught to deal with things in the right way–they still wear diapers, drink from a bottle (lattes with a straw??? come on), and expect handouts–they’ve never been taught to sharpen their knives.
We have gone from the greatest generation to those who are perplexed with society, disillusioned with the government, and think life is just a bowl of cherries with the pits removed. They are fortunate, however, when biting down on a cherry they come across a pit and almost break a tooth. Then they whine about it. They are not ready if there would be a shaking to happen to their little world of cinos and schones. Solomon must have had a few snowflakes around him when he wrote that a fool gives off a foul odor (see Ecclesiates 10:1-4).
We are told to put on the whole armor of God, to wield our swords and use them properly–that means keeping the sword of the Spirit sharp. We are to walk warily, yet confident. We are to be content, trusting solely in the Lord. We are not to be dull, but to be energized in the Spirit. We are to be ready for the situation that might come up against us. In other words, don’t be a dull Christian -sharpen yourself!