Another day to serve the Lord
November 13, 2009 (Friday)
Do you suffer from paraskevidekatriaphobia (fear of Friday the 13th)? Evidently many people do. The origin of the fear is disputed, with various theories proposed, but many people persist in being superstitious these days.
I was shocked when I discovered that some people believe driving by a cat on the road will bring bad luck unless you run over it and kill it. I learned this when my cat was killed and a guy I knew told me about the belief. I will always believe he killed my cat.
“Don’t walk under a ladder!” “Don’t let your partner walk on the other side of the post!” unless you both say, “Bread and Butter.” If you and and another person say the same word simultaneously, you must lock your pinkies, say some kind of silly formula, and make a wish. If you suddenly shudder without cause, someone has walked over your grave. Such beings as werewolves and vampires most surely exist, according to some.
On and on we can go, mentioning superstitious stuff that many people choose to believe.
The entire Dallas Morning News switchboard lit up like a Christmas tree the day the Horoscope feature was accidentlally left out of the paper. Seems a lot of people didn’t know how to start the day without it.
Ever carry a rabbit’s foot in your pocket or purse? Did it bring you luck? It certainly didn’t help the rabbit very much.
Seems we dream up ways to be afraid even if nothing frightening is going on. We Christians need to remember that the Bible says over and over, “Fear not!” Why not be afraid? Because the Lord is our God, is with us all the time, and helps us every day. We may not understand everything that’s going on, and we may wish things were different in our own lives right now, but we can trust the Lord no matter what.
The answer to our needs is not throwing salt over our shoulder, but becoming the salt of the earth and the light of the world. We can become a part of the solution to whatever problems present themselves. The Lord wants to use each of us to do just that. God works through us and we are thankful that he does.
Friday the 13th? Another day to serve the Lord.