“I trust in God’s unfailing love for ever and ever.” Psalm 52:8

I was chomping away on some ‘Double Bubble’ bubble gum the other night when I just KNEW something was wrong! Within’ a few nanoseconds, the wisdom that comes ONLY from time and experience screamed out…. STOP!!!! Spitting out evidence that accompanies stupid, I held, in my hand, a ‘crown’ that had come off one of my teeth! THIS is the kind of thing mama had warned me about!

I remembered, back in my Scoutmaster days, an encouraged mantra that we were to say around the campfire… over and over… until we ‘got wise.’ It goes like this;

“OWHAAAA TAGOO SIAM”

Go ahead…say it…out loud…over and over…in increasing speed! I’ll wait! Yep! That‘s me!

So yesterday I found myself in the Dentist’s Office at… unbelievably…the PERFECT time. ‘Tooth Hurty!’ Yes… really! There, Dr. G. my dentist friend, greeted me and put me in the care of Lisa. Lisa is a believer and we always have great conversations. I usually talk until she politely tells me to shut up and open! Not being afraid or nervous at all, I sat calmly as she poked and prodded. That is until she said, “Uh-Oh… we’ve got a live wire here!” My only response was “…UH?” Then my WHOLE ATTITUDE CHANGED!

She went on to explain that, “since that tooth still has it’s nerve, I might experience a jolt of unexpected pain! Just let me know,” she said! All I could do was laugh uncontrollably and say… “O.K…. I will!!” ‘She’ again politely told me to shut up and open and! ‘I’ went back to trusting… but with prepared caution!

Life, like a dentist’s chair, is NOT a laughing matter. I appreciated her warning that, what I DIDN’T know COULD hurt me. It gave me occasion to take a serious matter… seriously. That I read this verse this morning is NOT an accident. It is a gentle ‘Holy Spirit’ reminder that I’d better place my trust in the hands of the ONLY one who can help… then ‘shut up and be open!’

Life happens entirely too fast. I, for one, am prone to not ‘get it’ as fast as most. Laughing and joking my way through this ‘nerve’ous journey, I NEED to be reminded that ‘Stupid Hurts!’ Then, taking that advice, I must APPLY it daily. With the world, the flesh and the devil coming at me every day…I am a ‘LIVE WIRE!’ And I am also reminded that I’m MUCH too old to be keeping ‘Stupid’ as a friend!

Thanks for the lesson Lisa!