WALKING DOWN THE MIDWAY

What fun times I had as a child with my Dad and Mom.  I have no idea how he did it but my Dad found a way each Summer to take his family on vacation.  He was a maintenance man working for a company called Westinghouse and couldn't have been making a lot of money. But each year we would travel to Florida for a family vacation. 

I also remember times when my parents would take us to special events.  One in particular was the state fair.  To a young boy from a small town, traveling by car for an hour, to the largest city in Alabama (Birmingham) and going to the Alabama State Fair was a big deal. 

I remember walking along-side my Dad and Mom as we saw all the sights and rode the rides.  This trip too became an annual event just like vacations.  Sometime in October we set aside an evening and enjoyed the fair as a family. 

There were always "head-liners" at the fair.  Celebrities who would stand on the stage and either perform or speak to the crowd and finally come down to the fence to shake hands and sign autographs.

Let me ramble for a moment.  Bonanza was the top television show this particular year.  "Hoss" and "Little Joe" were the stars and they were going to be at the fair.  Nothing would do except for me to get to see "Hoss" and "Little Joe".  So after purchasing tickets and sitting in the stands to hear them talk, my dad purchased a black and white glossy picture of them (Dan Blocker and Michael Landon), put me on his shoulders and pushed and shoved his way through the crowd, up to the fence and close enough for me to get an autograph of my two heroes.  I kept that picture for many years. 

Sorry, back to my point.  One part of the fair that impressed me was the walk down the "midway".  There were merry-go-rounds, and Farris wheels,"The house of mirrors" and the "tunnel of horrors". There were men who guessed your age and guessed your weight.  Little booths with bright shinny trinkets to catch the eye of the passer-by.  Why you could knock over just three bottles with a baseball and win a prize.  You could hit just three targets with this gun and win a teddy bear. And then there were the "barkers" as Dad called them.  They were men who stood along side the "shows" and called to the people as they passed by.

"Step right up"  they would yell, "See the two-headed dog".  "Don't miss seeing the bearded lady, only 25 cents".    Some of the attractions were fun and we were allowed spend our quarter or dime to see.  But some, even though the "barkers" called and tried their best to entice us were simply not something Dad would allow our little family to experience.   

I actually didn't have to even ask.  I would hold to Dad's hand and he would gently guide me to the places that were good for me and gently but firmly guide me to the places that would be detrimental.  That made for fun at the fair.  That made good memories that I carry to this day.

My daily life and your daily life are exactly like going to the state fair.  I sit down at my computer each morning and what do I see?  The new "trending" items that someone has prepared for me to spend my time reading.  I turn on the morning news and am exposed to the "talking heads" who try to entice me to their line of thinking. 

Someone commits a crime or suffers some injustice someplace far away and I should be concerned.  Granted it is a bad thing when someone commits a crime but if that is far away and has nothing to do with me, should I stop to even listen?  Is this something that should warrant my time and attention?

Some politician embezzled money, some movie star cheated on his wife, some singer is on drugs or some sports figure is getting an unbelievable raise.  A group of blacks or Hispanics or Muslims are marching because they feel like they have been abused and misused.

The radio, the television, the Internet and the newspapers all scream like the "barkers" along the midway.  "Look at this", "be concerned about this", "this is important to you".  But you know what?  It isn't, or it shouldn't be. 

Philippians 4:8 tells us, "Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things".

I know some will say I have a very narrow world view.  Some will say I lock myself in my own little world and have a closed mind.  But the way I see it is that I'm walking down them midway of life and all sorts of things call for my attention.  Some of the things are good and some are bad.  I need help knowing who and what to listen to.

I think it's great that I can start my day off asking my Father to walk with me and hold my hand.  The "barkers" will always be there.  There will be bright lights, loud music, pretty pictures and enticing exhibits.  But our Father knows best and if we allow Him to, He will hold our hand and gently lead us to the things that are best for us. 

For me, that makes for a lot of fun in my life and a lifetime of good memories.  But even more, it makes for a safe trip home.

"Father, hold my hand today.  Please let me be obedient to your leading".