To say the least, and I usually do, this summer has been quite a journey for the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage and myself. I can't remember a summer equal to the one we just went through. The fact that we got through it is amazing.
One night this past week, I turned off the TV; we were getting ready to go to bed when my wife said, "What is that aggravating noise?" “Listen,” she whispered, “don’t you hear that noise?” As I tried to listen, I couldn't hear what she was hearing. And then I heard it. Somewhere in our living room, a tree frog invited himself to provide us with one of his concerts. There's nothing I like better at night than listening to a tree frog singing its latest song. “That’s not aggravating noise,” I replied, “that’s a tree frog singing a musical concert for us.” "It is not music," my wife uttered, "it is aggravating noise, and we need to get rid of it right now." Now, if anybody knows anything about music, it is my wife. She plays the piano, the organ, the guitar, the flute, and many times she plays me. But that's a different story. “Where is that aggravating noise coming from?” At one point, she looked at me and said, "Why are you smiling?" Not realizing I was smiling, I just looked at her and said, "I'm enjoying that wonderful music." “Well, stop it and help me find where that tree frog is.” We never did find that tree frog that night. It sang all night long, and when I got up in the morning, it was just finishing its concert. For the next several nights, that tree frog entertained us with its musical concert. I enjoyed it while my wife despised it. A few days later, my wife got up, came into the living room, and asked, "Where is that noise?" "Oh," I said rather cheerfully, "you mean the musical concert we enjoyed for the last several nights." She looked at me with one of her looks. “I think the tree frog has finished its concert and has moved on to its next engagement.” For a moment, I was a little sorry because I enjoyed all the music from that tree frog. If up to me, and it isn't, I would engage that tree frog for a concert every night. Last night as we were sitting in the living room, my wife said, “Isn’t that wonderful?” Not knowing what she meant, I asked her, and she said, "that aggravating noise from the tree frog is gone. I really enjoy the quiet." For a moment, I wanted to reply, "I really enjoyed the tree frog concert." I knew that would not be the proper thing to say at a time like this. There is a time when you can agree on something. We don't have to agree on everything, but we need to agree on that which is important. Amos, the Old Testament prophet, said it this way, “Can two walk together, except they be agreed?” (Amos 3:3). Throughout my life, I have discovered that the important thing is not what you disagree about but rather what you agree on, and that brings you together. [Dr. James L. Snyder is pastor of the Family of God Fellowship, Ocala, FL 34472. He lives with the Gracious Mistress of the Parsonage in Silver Springs Shores. Call him at 352-216-3025 or e-mail jamessnyder2@att.net. The church web site is www.whatafellowship.com.] |
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