Nostalgia, again

A week or so ago I took my camera and drove downtown, for the express purpose of taking photographs of old buildings.  I went at lunch time, something I seldom do, so that I could also visit the exhibits in the old Kimbrell’s building – they’re only open 11 AM to 2 PM or so.

It was an interesting expedition. I took photos of some buildings, then walked down the block and into the art exhibits, taking photos of the interior. I remember this building, back when it was a furniture store. Even before it was Kimbrell’s. It was Water’s Furniture and Funeral Parlor, although when I was little the funeral part had moved into its own premises down the street.

I especially remember shopping for furniture there as a newly wed in the early 60’s. I browsed several downtown stores, including this one.

It was full of displays, arranged so neatly and decoratively. Living rooms here. Dining rooms in the back. Bedroom suites and kitchen dinette sets upstairs, I think.

I loved that warm, comfortable and quiet open space. The unobtrusive salesman let me wander around to my heart’s content – “Give me a call if you need me,” he said with a friendly nod.

I loved that new furniture smell too, the smooth feel of the flowered chintzes, the nubby feel of woven fabrics, the gleam of the dark wood frames on sofas and armchairs.

Upstairs a variety of styles, patterns and room arrangements filled the eye, huge four posters, tall highboys, and somewhere up there the children’s bunk beds, cribs and rocking chairs.

I don’t think I bought anything on that trip, not finished with my browsing yet. I returned several times over the years, enjoying each visit.

I’m glad that old building still has life in it. I hope it will be useful for many  generations to come. It’s appropriate  to have the beautiful paintings, photographs and sculptures displayed in it, I think. They look right at home.

God forbid

“God forbid that I should sin against the Lord in ceasing to pray for you; but I will teach you the good and the right way. Only fear the Lord, and serve him in truth with all your heart; for consider how great things he hath done for you.  But if you shall still do wickedly, you shall be consumed, both you and your king.”  (I Samuel 12:23-25, the prophet Samuel speaking to the nation of Israel after anointing Saul as their first king.)

I watched the inauguration the other day and some of the festivities surrounding it. All the media hoopla reminded me of a coronation rather than an inauguration, sort of like the old footage I’ve seen of Queen Elizabeth’s coronation.

It was pretty, but I was a little sad as I watched. I remember being on that Mall when I joined hundreds of thousands of people for the first March for Jesus in the early 1980’s. We were there praying for our nation, not trashing the place. One hundred tons of trash were left on the Mall the other day, did you know that?

The people of Israel were having problems, social, religious, economic and military problems. They wanted a king instead of only religious leaders, some of whom had been scandalous. They were tired of being different, being “holy.” They wanted to be like their neighbor nations, and they especially wanted a leader who would “fight our battles.” (I Sam. 8:20).

They were warned that a strictly human head of government was a bad idea, but God let them have what they wanted.

I Samuel 8:10-18, the prophet Samuel’s warnings, are a real eye opener.

The new king would put lots and lots of people to work – not for themselves, but in the government.  Then of course he would increase taxes to pay all those new workers.  Um, um, um.

Israel got a tall, handsome man, experienced in his family business of raising animals but not experienced in politics. And before long the people would be wishing they’d never heard of him.  “And you shall cry out in that day because of your king whom you have chosen; and the Lord will not hear you in that day.” (I Sam. 8:18).  They would be stuck, because they gave the king the authority to be king and do all that in the first place.

That’s sort of where I see America these days. God is letting the people have what they wanted. I’m grateful we don’t have a king; that might be worse.

And I’m glad that when we pray, God does listen to our prayers, and if we pray His will in the first place, we give him permission to do what He wants in our lives and our country.

God forbid that we cease to pray for our new President and all the elected officials.  Pray that God will “fix their thinking” wherever it’s wrong, and give them whatever they need to do a good job.