"Old Paths"

I have been musing about "Old Paths" which was sent to me a couple of days ago. It is written in poetry form by a retired minister from Tennessee. Remember my musing about 'rose colored glasses', well this reminded me of one version of what our lives 'used to be' . . . but . . . like a lot of stories we read, or hear about, there are a lot of necessary words left out and the darker side not discussed as it didn't exist for some folks. We have gone through a lot of changes in the last several decades, just as others had to go through changes from the Victorian era. Growing up, whether it is supposed changes for the better, or the growing pains of our bodies and minds, is not a one way paved road but one of ruts and uneven paths to our own futures. Each one of us has had our own path to follow. The suggestion is that it was a better life style . . . "brothers went into the army, and sisters got married BEFORE having children." the exception today is that both men and women are going into the service and the ladies are getting pregnant with and without a marriage certificate and it is not hidden under the rug as it used to be. "Crime does not pay" from the headlines about out illustrious leaders, I'd say a few are making billions and living 'high on the hog', but then we had politicians who were masters at stealing from the public since the beginning of time. "Mom's could cook; Dads would work; Children would behave" . . . how come the stores are now selling packaged dinners, and a lot of father's don't work because they are not educated in high tech and pick and shovel days are around the corner once again . . . and some children do not behave, but I bet you can remember a 'kid' in your past who was far from an angel with wings. This one I got a kick out of . . . "women wore jewelry; and men wore the pants." I didn't know many women who had much in jewelry as most were confined to being 'barefoot and pregnant' by that 'king of his castle' with the roving eye and the beer gut. "Women looked like ladies; Men looked like gentlemen; and children looked decent." Um . . . girdles and slips and stockings and high heels; men with ties and starch collars and children in starched dresses or shirts. Thank God for change! "People Love the Truth, And hated a lie." We could have a debate on that subject. "They came to church to get IN, Not to get OUT." I believe a lot more would attend services and enjoy all of the wondrous traditions if the clergy would take the politics and hypocrisy out of organized religions and practice what they preach. "Cursing was wicked; Drugs were for illness; And divorce was unthinkable." All the ills of weaknesses that never change because we do not change. Old habits die hard. "The flag was honored, America was beautiful, And God was welcome! It still is but it takes a bit of time to find it now a day. We live in the most beautiful country in the world; we have it all . . . but we do not take care of it, as we should, and it starts with each one of us, cut back, cut down, cut out We need to be patriotic, we need prayer wherever we are, inside or out. "To be called an American was worth dying for; To be called an American was worth living for; To be called a traitor was a shame!" That hasn't changed. The ending statement was that the minister 'loved the old paths best' Um. . . food for thought as you agree or disagree, the choice is yours. I think we humans need a 'kick in the pants' and should not forget where we came from or where we want to go. Times will continue to change for both the good and the bad, it all depends on us and how we live our lives. Some one said 'it is better to light one little candle than to stumble in the dark'. . . think about that and make today the best one yet. Cook a dinner from scratch; do some laundry in the bath tub; hang your clothes out on a line; visit a church of your choice, and for heavens sake, please say a prayer for me.