If you are a regular reader of this blog, then you know April and I went to Louisville, Kentucky, for Christmas. April’s sister had to work the day shift at the hospital, so she wasn’t hosting Christmas lunch, and her family had prior plans with a friend. So after we left the church, we had no place to go for dinner.
There were several eating establishments by our hotel, but none appeared to be open. Then I noticed cars in line at the drive-through for McDonald’s. We both looked at each other and said, “Nothing else is open!” We took our place at the end of one of the split lines. We started reviewing our choices on the lit-up menu board. Then I noticed no muffled voices were speaking to the people in the cars ahead of us. I commented to April, “I don’t think they’re open.” She replied, “Well then, why are cars in line?” “Because the menu board is lit,” I replied.
Apparently, when McDonald’s closed, they forgot to turn off the menu boards. I have noticed Americans will get in a line even if it is not the right line. I know I am guilty of that. I recall what my senior year English teacher, Ms. Tibbs, once said, “Drive your own bus! You don’t know where someone else driving their bus may be going.” I think she was trying to teach us not to follow the crowd.
We got out of the line, went next door to a gas station, and bought some noodles. But on the way back to our hotel, we noticed Waffle House was open. We went in. Being there on Christmas day reminded me of Randy Stonehill’s song, “Christmas At Denny’s.” Considering it was the only restaurant open, the food was outstanding! Later that night, we had dinner with April’s sister and family. On our way there, we noticed new cars in the drive-through line at McDonald’s. Yes, the menu board was still lit!
Tragically, too many people mindlessly follow the crowd. Whatever the multitude is doing or just bought, they too must do or have.
“Enter by the narrow gate; for wide is the gate and broad is the way that leads to destruction, and there are many who go in by it. Mat. 7:13 (NKJV)
Sometimes it may feel you are alone if you have chosen to accept God and His gift of forgiveness for your sins. But you aren’t alone. Don’t fall into the temptation to be accepted by being a part of the crowd. You can ask God to help you stand alone if needed, and He will. Jesus went to the cross alone. He knows what it feels like to be rejected, despised, and hated. The menu board may be lit up, but you don’t have to place an order. Doing so could cost you where you spend eternity.
Copyright © 2023 Mark Brady. All rights reserved.
If death somehow gave us truths we didn’t have or didn’t believe while living what would we do with it? Most, would probably want to come back to life to tell those they love and others what they now know. One thing is for sure, when a person dies, they know in an instant there is a God, and there is judgement for how they lived and best, or worst of all, that there is indeed a heaven, and a hell.
I got remarried yesterday evening, after being divorced for twenty-three years. I no longer have to check that dreaded little box, “Divorced”. I married a wonderful woman of God who is a Filipino. The only problem is, I’m an American, and she is not allowed to enter the United States without a Visa, which could take a year or longer to arrive. When she said, “I do,” she became an “IR”. Instant Relative. This status gives her priority over everyone else trying to enter America by any other means. Work Visa, Student Visa, Fiancé Visa, etc. It also gives her access to a “Green Card” and two weeks after she arrives in America she will get her Social Security card. Being an “IR” has instant privileges.
brady, mark a. 