Be Careful

September 24, 2023
 
Reflection From the Heart of Allan Redenius
There are some things you see, that once seen, cannot be unseen.
 
Growing up in small town Iowa, whenever the town fire whistle blew, a parade of cars followed along behind the first responders to see what they could see.  In my youth, I watched plenty of barns burn down.  One day, I watched the firemen and men of the community work together and take a tractor apart.  One of our cousins had been working on the tractor and somehow got his hand stuck in the transmission.  As the tractor, once one piece became two, and my cousin’s hand was freed, there was a collective cheer.  On another occasion a young man, three or four years older than me, had a Corvette.  North of town there was an open stretch of blacktop calling out to him and his ultra-fast Corvette.  Somehow, going faster than we can imagine, the car struck a bridge abutment.  What I remember seeing is this.  The car engine was fifty yards from the point of impact.  The car was in a thousand pieces, and I saw things as a fifteen year old, I should not have seen.
 
I am reminded how quickly little boys and girls grow up.  Today they grow up faster and are exposed to things I didn’t even imagine in my youth.  The old, old hymn gives so much good advice for the modern world.  “Oh, be careful little eyes, what you see.”  The lyrics go on to say to be careful little ears what you hear, little tongue what you say, little hands what you do, closing with little feet where you go.  Good advice for child-rearing today.  Wait a minute.  Maybe good advice for adults too.
 
Be careful in living your life.  Each stanza of that hymn reminds us, “There’s a Father up above Who is looking down in love….”
 
Yes, there are some things seen, heard, or spoken that cannot be undone….be careful.
 
Love to all,
Pastor Allan
 
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