The Parson's Page
  • Home
  • Articles
  • Sermons
  • C David Hess
    • A Raging Moderate
  • About

Holes in the Backyard  

4/30/2009

 
Friday was such a nice day that I decided to do some work in my backyard. Job number one was to fill in some holes that my Keeshond, Buster, had dug over the window. I went to Walmart and got 3 big bags of dirt and some grass seed. I came home, put Buster in the house, and proceeded with the repairs. I filled about 7 or 8 big holes and spread the grass seed.

My next door neighbor saw what I was doing and asked, “You don’t really think that’s going to do any good, do you?”

I muttered something about “living in hope” and finished the job.

Sure enough, within two hours after I had put him back out in the yard, Buster had re-dug every single hole. I had fanciful thoughts of re-filling them and telling him that if he ever dug another hole, I was going to put him in it. I knew, of course, that he wouldn’t understand, and that I would be bluffing. Even if I weren’t, he would probably still dig. Such is the force of habit. 

Of course, I already knew that. I remember being a dinner guest in a church member’s home years ago. At the end of the meal, I arose and, without thinking, put a dollar bill on the table. The lady of the house exclaimed, “What are you doing?” 

What indeed? I was so used to eating in restaurants and leaving a tip at the end of the meal I was just following the engrained habit.  

Habits are powerful things, both the positive ones and the negative ones. Scripture says, “Let us consider how to stimulate one another to love and good deeds, not forsaking our own assembling together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another; and all the more, as you see the day drawing near.     (Hebrews 10:19-25)


©2009 C. David Hess

    Parsonally Speaking

    Categories

    All
    Current Events/Hot Issues
    Other Articles
    Personal Confessions
    The Bible & Christianity
    The Church
    The Darker Side
    The Lighter Side
    The Movies

    Archives

    September 2014
    October 2013
    January 2013
    November 2012
    February 2012
    December 2011
    April 2011
    December 2010
    June 2010
    April 2010
    December 2009
    April 2009
    March 2009
    February 2009
    January 2009
    December 2008
    November 2008
    September 2008
    June 2008
    March 2008
    February 2008
    November 2007
    October 2007
    September 2007
    May 2007
    March 2007
    January 2007
    December 2006
    September 2006
    June 2006
    May 2006
    March 2006
    February 2006
    January 2006
    December 2005
    September 2005
    April 2005
    March 2005
    November 2004
    June 2004
    May 2004
    April 2004
    March 2004
    December 2003
    October 2003
    September 2003
    May 2003
    March 2003
    January 2003
    September 2002
    August 2002
    April 2002
    October 2001
    September 2001
    July 2001
    March 2001
    December 2000
    November 2000
    September 2000
    August 2000
    May 2000
    March 2000
    January 2000
    November 1999
    April 1999
    March 1999
    December 1998
    September 1998
    August 1998
    May 1998
    April 1998
    March 1998
    February 1998
    January 1998
    December 1997
    August 1997
    June 1997
    May 1997
    April 1997
    January 1997
    December 1996
    November 1996
    October 1996
    September 1996
    August 1996
    July 1996
    June 1996
    May 1996
    April 1996
    March 1996
    February 1996
    January 1996
    December 1995
    November 1995
    August 1995
    April 1995
    January 1994
    February 1993
    January 1993


Powered by Create your own unique website with customizable templates.