'Trust, It's Not Always A Matter Of Choice...'
More on my website: http://www.rustygoat.texasgoat.com/
I had a strange dream right before I woke up this morning. It went like this: I stood at the checkout at the local grocery store, paying for my groceries and as the clerk handed me the receipt, I turned around and...my basket of groceries was gone! I proclaimed the fact to the girl who had taken my $69.59 and she replied with a silent curl of her lip and a 'sucks to be you' look, then began checking out the next customer. I frantically rushed from cart ot cart in search of my groceries then spotted an employee who appeared to be a supervisor of some sorts. I rushed to her and told her my story. She gave me an unconcerned look and replied, "Sure, Pops...nice try!" I then demanded to see the store manager who appeared after a very lengthy wait. I explained the situation to him. He smiled and shook his head, "Tell ya what, let me buy you a Coke and a candy bar. I won't let you leave hungry." I bristled and replied, "I want my seventy bucks worth of groceries...not a freakin' candy bar!" His face grew stern, "What are you going to do, report me to the media?" I drew my face close to his and said in a low tone, "I AM the media!"
Well, I woke up without resolving my problem, but I did make my point with the man. With an average of a quarter million visitors each month stopping the Rusty Goat site, I do possess a certain amount of ability to get a message or two broadcast to, lets say...lots of folks. Perhaps my dream stems from a recent rash of local media 'exposures' on local businesses that have shafted a customer here and there, who in turn, turned to the media for help in getting their viewpoints aired, and hopefully getting their issues resolved to their satisfaction. We really shouldn't have to call in the big guns to force a business to play fair, but hey, we do what we have to do?
It's a matter of trust. So many times we are forced to trust someone...there is no choice. When you receive your monthly electric bill, you trust someone really did read the meter. When you sign up for a two year contract for satellite TV or a cell phone provider, you are forced to trust that a) they really will provide the service they promise and b) they won't jack your rate up every time the dog farts.
This website is made available to you at no cost to you. It is subsidized primarily by Google ads. When you click on an ad, I get a nickle (if you click really hard, sometimes I make a dime.) Every month Google sends me a check. I trust that they are playing fair. I sell my books on Amazon.com. They send my royalty check every quarter...I trust they are playing fair. I have no choice. When I fill my gas tank up, I trust that I really got all the gas I paid for...I have no choice.
Trust is defined as one party willing to rely on the actions of another party. Notice it said 'willing.' I'm not forced to do business with Google or Amazon, nor am I forced to trust the electric company. There would be lots of dark, lonely nights without them, though.
There is a trust available to us all, not a forced trust like those mentioned above, but a trust in God. He never forces us to trust him. We are given free will to choose how we live our lives. I freely choose to place my trust in Him. I think many folks out there believe in God, but don't really put their trust in Him. They see their belief in God as a way to heaven. Folks, that's not what it's all about. Sure, we all want to go 'there,' but if we base our beliefs solely on getting to heaven while continuing to live a haphazard and freewheeling life here on earth, we miss out on the daily gifts that God is so willing to give us...when we put our trust in Him.
What might had been the outcome of my dream? Perhaps I had decided to take matters into my own hands, pulling out my pistol, firing off random rounds while proclaiming, "I ain't leaving till my get my freakin' groceries!" Yeah, I'd been dining at some state prison for a very long time. But had I instead, gone home and dropped to my knees and told God, "Lord, that was my last seventy bucks till payday and I have nothing to eat. Please help me get through this," I guarantee you I would not miss a meal. In all my fifty something years, I have NEVER gone hungry. I've always had a roof over my head and socks to put on my feet. I trust my God.
There's a new dollar coin floating around. It is missing one familiar phrase, "In God We Trust." Yes, shame on the ones who made the decision to leave that off the coin...but that's between them and God. I personally don't need a coin to remind me that I need to place my trust in Him. My relationship with God is a personal one...just between me and Him. I have seen the power of God when I put my trust in Him. Trust me, it's magical!
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' Proverbs 3: 5-6
I had a strange dream right before I woke up this morning. It went like this: I stood at the checkout at the local grocery store, paying for my groceries and as the clerk handed me the receipt, I turned around and...my basket of groceries was gone! I proclaimed the fact to the girl who had taken my $69.59 and she replied with a silent curl of her lip and a 'sucks to be you' look, then began checking out the next customer. I frantically rushed from cart ot cart in search of my groceries then spotted an employee who appeared to be a supervisor of some sorts. I rushed to her and told her my story. She gave me an unconcerned look and replied, "Sure, Pops...nice try!" I then demanded to see the store manager who appeared after a very lengthy wait. I explained the situation to him. He smiled and shook his head, "Tell ya what, let me buy you a Coke and a candy bar. I won't let you leave hungry." I bristled and replied, "I want my seventy bucks worth of groceries...not a freakin' candy bar!" His face grew stern, "What are you going to do, report me to the media?" I drew my face close to his and said in a low tone, "I AM the media!"
Well, I woke up without resolving my problem, but I did make my point with the man. With an average of a quarter million visitors each month stopping the Rusty Goat site, I do possess a certain amount of ability to get a message or two broadcast to, lets say...lots of folks. Perhaps my dream stems from a recent rash of local media 'exposures' on local businesses that have shafted a customer here and there, who in turn, turned to the media for help in getting their viewpoints aired, and hopefully getting their issues resolved to their satisfaction. We really shouldn't have to call in the big guns to force a business to play fair, but hey, we do what we have to do?
It's a matter of trust. So many times we are forced to trust someone...there is no choice. When you receive your monthly electric bill, you trust someone really did read the meter. When you sign up for a two year contract for satellite TV or a cell phone provider, you are forced to trust that a) they really will provide the service they promise and b) they won't jack your rate up every time the dog farts.
This website is made available to you at no cost to you. It is subsidized primarily by Google ads. When you click on an ad, I get a nickle (if you click really hard, sometimes I make a dime.) Every month Google sends me a check. I trust that they are playing fair. I sell my books on Amazon.com. They send my royalty check every quarter...I trust they are playing fair. I have no choice. When I fill my gas tank up, I trust that I really got all the gas I paid for...I have no choice.
Trust is defined as one party willing to rely on the actions of another party. Notice it said 'willing.' I'm not forced to do business with Google or Amazon, nor am I forced to trust the electric company. There would be lots of dark, lonely nights without them, though.
There is a trust available to us all, not a forced trust like those mentioned above, but a trust in God. He never forces us to trust him. We are given free will to choose how we live our lives. I freely choose to place my trust in Him. I think many folks out there believe in God, but don't really put their trust in Him. They see their belief in God as a way to heaven. Folks, that's not what it's all about. Sure, we all want to go 'there,' but if we base our beliefs solely on getting to heaven while continuing to live a haphazard and freewheeling life here on earth, we miss out on the daily gifts that God is so willing to give us...when we put our trust in Him.
What might had been the outcome of my dream? Perhaps I had decided to take matters into my own hands, pulling out my pistol, firing off random rounds while proclaiming, "I ain't leaving till my get my freakin' groceries!" Yeah, I'd been dining at some state prison for a very long time. But had I instead, gone home and dropped to my knees and told God, "Lord, that was my last seventy bucks till payday and I have nothing to eat. Please help me get through this," I guarantee you I would not miss a meal. In all my fifty something years, I have NEVER gone hungry. I've always had a roof over my head and socks to put on my feet. I trust my God.
There's a new dollar coin floating around. It is missing one familiar phrase, "In God We Trust." Yes, shame on the ones who made the decision to leave that off the coin...but that's between them and God. I personally don't need a coin to remind me that I need to place my trust in Him. My relationship with God is a personal one...just between me and Him. I have seen the power of God when I put my trust in Him. Trust me, it's magical!
'Trust in the Lord with all your heart, And lean not on your own understanding; In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct your paths.' Proverbs 3: 5-6
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