Blessings from God

More on Extras in Movies and God’s Purposes – was this cricket a Columbo star?

/ Bill Jones / Leave a comment

 

Cricket Extra

Cricket Extra

 

I watched an old Columbo TV show the other day, and as a car drove by in an outdoor night scene, you could hear one of the cast members making noises in the bushes. The sound of a cricket’s chirps rang out, trying to convince the viewers they really were outside at night.

I’m sure he wasn’t listed in the credits, but, he was probably the cricket cast member for Columbo. If there was a nighttime chirping part to fill, I imagine the sound effects editor  pulled out the same “cricket 101” tape and over-dubbed it on the soundtrack. Perfection every time. Never missed his mark or had to do a re-take.

I wondered if this cricket was featured in other soundtracks. Had I heard him before but didn’t recognize him? Maybe he was a mega-star among crickets and recordings of his chirp were shared among the studios, and his “voice” heard in hundreds of shows and movies. Or was he even an international star – you wouldn’t need subtitles for that, because they all seem to speak the same in any language. (Actually not speaking, of course, but rubbing their wings together.)

I don’t know the answer to those questions or to the cricket’s stardom status. As you see, this relates to my last blog on “extras” in TV and movies. Slightly different because this one isn’t human, and we don’t see him but only hear him. Either way, his purpose is the same as other extras – to improve the quality of the environment, or as one comment said, to enhance the ambience of the scene – to make it more enjoyable.

Again, like my last post, that gives another aspect of being an “extra” that relates to our responsibility as Christians. Like the cricket who was heard and not seen, and perhaps noticed by only one person out of hundreds, we are to make life for others more enjoyable, without searching for praise and glory.

Jesus gave us instructions to enhance the ambience of any scene we’re a part of when He said “You are the salt of the earth” (Matthew 5:13) and “You are the light of the world” (Matthew 5:14). Then, He made it clear that we are the extras and the glory goes to where it truly belongs:

“In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16 ESV)

Beautiful Blooms – Blessings From God

/ Bill Jones / 4 Comments
Pink Hibiscus

Pink Hibiscus

Day Lily

Day Lily

Coneflower adn Devil's Trumpet

Coneflower and Devil’s Trumpet

I’ve missed a bit on the blog posts the last couple of weeks, but thought I would show a few blooms from the backyard. At the moment it has been dry and the last few days were super “wet” – not from rain but from humidity.

“And why take ye thought for raiment? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow ; they toil not, neither do they spin : And yet I say unto you, That even Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these.”  Matthew 6:28-29 KJV

Any Wisdom is From God – in Spite of Myself

/ Bill Jones / 10 Comments

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As I crossed the bridge to Saint Simons Island, I glanced at the mirror and saw a police car following me. I checked my speed, saw it was ok, and continued on. The next time I checked the mirror, the police car’s lights were flashing. I looked to see if I could move over and let him go around. Obviously, he was after someone and I was in his way.

When I figured out that he had several opportunities to go around but didn’t, I also figured out that I was the  target of his lights! By that time, we were down the backside of the bridge so there was space to pull over – which I did.

Since I wasn’t speeding, I assumed there was a brake light out or something like that. I rolled down the window as he walked up and said good morning. He made a comment about my coming from Bulloch County (I guess he read the tag) and asked to see my driver’s license. After reviewing it, he made a couple more comments about Bulloch County and asked where I was headed. Then he took my license and went back to his patrol car.

He returned and said he pulled me over because I didn’t have my headlights on in the fog. I nodded my head and silently agreed it had been foggy earlier in the morning. I had my headlights on the entire 105 miles from Bulloch County until I stopped for a cup of coffee a couple of miles before the bridge. When I came out, the fog was pretty much gone so I left them off.

I also didn’t mention that I was among the majority crossing the bridge that didn’t have headlights on. He graciously gave me only a warning ticket and I graciously accepted it and headed on.

I wondered why he stopped me. I’m confident he was observant enough to see that only a few vehicles had their headlights on at that time. So, for some reason, he needed an excuse to pull me over. Maybe, considering his comments about Bulloch County, there was some connection with that. Or, it could be they were looking for a small red pickup truck. Perhaps he just thought I looked like I was doing something wrong. Another something I’ll never know.

Reflecting on the encounter, I see that my tongue could have gotten me in big trouble. An argument that pointed out all the other vehicles without headlights on might not have been taken well. Impatience could have caused problems, too. I doubt he would have been willing to go with a warning ticket to someone who began giving all the reasons he was in a hurry to go. So, I do thank the Holy Spirit for leading me in what to say and not say, and do and not do as a Christian. And, I’m thankful that I paid attention to Him (I wish I did that every time.)

“The way of a fool is right in his own eyes, but a wise man listens to advice.” Proverbs 12:15

Any wisdom is only by the grace of God – in spite of myself.