Sunday, March 4, 2001

When we had dirt roads

I want to personally thank Mike Moore and Doug Beardon for their work with "LunchThe Word" which met weekly in the wedding chapel reception area behind Fayette Mower.

Currently they are seeking God's guidance for what He will do with this ministry in the future. It was at one of those wonderful meetings that I heard Dale Stills speak.

Dale works with a Christian counseling group called "Christian Families Today. " They are located behind McDonalds restaurant in Fayetteville. If you or your family ever need this kind of help, I would highly recommend them to you.

The morning that Dale spoke he read a writing by Paul Harvey which really spoke to my heart. I share it with you here.

"What's mainly wrong with society today is that too many Dirt Roads have been paved. There's not a problem in America today, crime, drugs, education, divorce, deliquency that wouldn't be remedied if we just had more Dirt Roads, because Dirt Roads give character.

"People who live at the end of Dirt Roads learn early on that life is a bumpy ride. That it can jar you right down to your teeth sometimes, but it's worth it, if at the end is home....a loving spouse, happy kids and a dog.

"We wouldn't have near the trouble with our educational system if our kids got heir exercise walking a Dirt Road with other kids, from whom they learn how to get along.

"There was less crime in our streets before they were paved. Criminals didn't walk two dusty miles to rob or rape, if they knew they'd be welcomed by five barking dogs and a double barrel shotgun. And there were no drive-by shootings. Our values were better when our roads were worse!

"People did not worship their cars more than their kids, and motorists were more courteous, they didn't tailgate by riding the bumper of the guy in front who would choke you with dust & bust your windshield with rocks.

"Dirt Roads taught patience. Dirt Roads were environmentially freindly; you didn't hop in your car for a quart of milk, you walked to the barn for your milk. For your mail, you walked to the mail box.

"What if it rained and the Dirt Road got washed out? That was the best part; then you stayed home and had some family time, roasted marshmallows and popped popcorn and pony-rode on Daddy's shoulders and learned how to make prettier quilts than anybody.

"At he end of Dirt Roads, you soon learned that bad words tasted like soap. Most paved roads lead to trouble. Dirt Roads more likely lead to a fishing creek or a swimming hole.

"At the end of a Dirt Road, there was always extra springtime income, from when city dudes would get stuck, you'd have to hitch up a team and pull them out. Usually you got a dollar....always you got a new friend....at the end of a Dirt Road."

Ask yourself do you spend more time with your car than you do your kids? God is the restorer of families and friendships and relationships and roads and of times gone bye. Learn to trust Him for the restoration process.

Dr. Knox Herndon is the Pastor of "His House Community Church" and a retired Southern Baptist Army Chaplain. The new church location is in Senoia just South of the Ga. Highway 16 intersection. The church is located 1/2 mile South of the Fire Station on Ga. highway 85 South. If you're not currently in a church, come visit us. Prayer line and Church office telephone number is 770-719-2365. The e-mail address is KHERN2365@aol. com.

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