The assignment in Sunday School last week was for each member to write a mission statement for his or her life?
It has frankly been a struggle for some of the folks in Polecat Hollow. Uncle Hinky wondered if they meant up until that point or beyond. At 105 he wonders how many more changes might be in store for him. He figures that if he can hand out a little more advice here and there and if someone takes it, his days will not be in vain. He said that. He even wrote it down. But he didn't give much more thought to it.
"It sounds good," he told Byron. "It's about what you'd expect an old goat to say."
Inside, he figured no one would ask for advise and he'd be under no obligation to actually give it - certainly free of the responsibility if it didn't work out.
Miss Prudence is not quite so old (but considerably older than anyone else she knows well) and is always looking forward with clarity and wonder. There are so many things she has not yet done to add to the list of all that she has experienced. Her mission, as she saw it, was to help some young folks along their way. However, she was not sure what that might look like.
Her heart was right however.
That is probably why all the Junior Goobies, led by Buster and Sally, eventually found their way to her house last week. It was not just the years, but how she had lived them. She gave each child a little bit different piece of advice based upon what she knew of each of them and what they told her as she asked some very searching questions.
"You just can't package this stuff," she told Hinky at Mabel's Teacup on Friday, feeling a bit more of an expert by this time. "Everyone is different and God has a special plan for everyone of those young people."
"We just have to be there to love and support them and guide them a bit."
About that time, Mayor Bryon T. Simpleton whizzed by the table.
"I could really use some of your time this afternoon to talk through some town issues. Are you busy at about 5?"
"I'll have to consult my datebook," Hinky chuckled. "I think I can work you in between naps."
It was about that time that it became especially clear to both of them what they would be doing for the next years of their lives.
It has frankly been a struggle for some of the folks in Polecat Hollow. Uncle Hinky wondered if they meant up until that point or beyond. At 105 he wonders how many more changes might be in store for him. He figures that if he can hand out a little more advice here and there and if someone takes it, his days will not be in vain. He said that. He even wrote it down. But he didn't give much more thought to it.
"It sounds good," he told Byron. "It's about what you'd expect an old goat to say."
Inside, he figured no one would ask for advise and he'd be under no obligation to actually give it - certainly free of the responsibility if it didn't work out.
Miss Prudence is not quite so old (but considerably older than anyone else she knows well) and is always looking forward with clarity and wonder. There are so many things she has not yet done to add to the list of all that she has experienced. Her mission, as she saw it, was to help some young folks along their way. However, she was not sure what that might look like.
Her heart was right however.
That is probably why all the Junior Goobies, led by Buster and Sally, eventually found their way to her house last week. It was not just the years, but how she had lived them. She gave each child a little bit different piece of advice based upon what she knew of each of them and what they told her as she asked some very searching questions.
"You just can't package this stuff," she told Hinky at Mabel's Teacup on Friday, feeling a bit more of an expert by this time. "Everyone is different and God has a special plan for everyone of those young people."
"We just have to be there to love and support them and guide them a bit."
About that time, Mayor Bryon T. Simpleton whizzed by the table.
"I could really use some of your time this afternoon to talk through some town issues. Are you busy at about 5?"
"I'll have to consult my datebook," Hinky chuckled. "I think I can work you in between naps."
It was about that time that it became especially clear to both of them what they would be doing for the next years of their lives.
Comments