Another Fine Mess

In light of the deepening financial crisis gripping the country, which will in one way or another effect everybody, even though you feel you’re not guilty of contributing to the problem, I thought of the comedic team of the 30’s and 40’s, Laurel & Hardy. They’re on screen personas are described as “...two supremely brainless, eternally optimistic men, secure in their perpetual and impregnable innocence.” I think that description could apply to every stock exchange floor trader. What brought them to mind was that famous quote of Ollie’s, when he discovers that the two of them are so deep in trouble they might never see the light of day again. Even though Ollie was just as involved in the comedy of errors that always got them into so much trouble, he always laid the blame on Laurel for getting them there. Hardy would look at Laurel, with hands on hips, and say, “Well, here’s another nice mess you’ve gotten me into.” Today I feel like Oliver Hardy felt one time, as I look to the financial geniuses that got us into this mess. Ollie had stated his famous quote on screen so many times, once he simply turned to Stan Laurel with hands on hips and impatiently says, “Well...” with Stan replying, all the while scratching the top of his head, “Here’s another nice mess I’ve gotten you into.”
One day while on a walk through the local park, a man happened upon a Tee-Ball game in progress. Needing a short rest he sat down behind the first base players bench. He asked one of the uniformed boys what the score was. “We’re behind 14 to nothin’”, he replied with a big smile. “Really”, said the man. “I have to say, you don’t look very discouraged.” “Discouraged”? the boy asked with a puzzled look on his face. “Why should I be discouraged? We haven’t even been up to bat yet!” Being optimistic enough to never feel you’re in trouble, should be reserved for youthful experience only.
With this financial crisis looming over us, some expectations may take a greater imagination to conquer on an even tighter budget. Rick forgot about his wedding anniversary. His bride was really angry and told him, “Tomorrow morning I expect to find a gift in the driveway that goes from 0 to 180 in less than six seconds ...AND IT BETTER BE THERE!!” The next morning she awoke to find her husband gone. She looked out the window and sure enough, there in the middle of the driveway was a gift-wrapped box. Puzzled, she put on a robe, ran outside to retrieve the box, and brought it into the house. She opened it and found a brand new bathroom scale. Rick hasn’t been seen since.
[1 John 2: 15-17] When James Garfield, former President of the United States, was principal of Hiram College in Ohio, a parent asked if the curriculum could be simplified for his son. “Certainly”, Garfield replied, “But it all depends on what you want to make of your boy. When God wants to make a oak tree, He takes a hundred years. When He wants to make a squash He requires only two months. Do you want him to be more like a squash or an oak tree?” Personally, I want to be strong like the oak. We seem to have a real big problem weighing and prioritizing our wants and needs in this life. God’s word teaches me that the love of the world makes me weak and the time I have to spend here will probably only produce a squash. To live forever I must become strong in the Lord and live according to the will of God. That, my friend, takes a lifetime of commitment.