DUMB THINGS
It’s impossible to forget some of the really dumb things we’ve done along the way… The 8,000 pound forklift was cruising along in second gear, not exceptionally fast, but a whole lot faster than an easy jog.
I was in dire need of more studs and plate (long 2x4s). Instinct is a peculiar thing, especially for young people, young men in particular. My survival instinct was being measured by a teenager’s warped perspective.
The forklift driver, who was being hounded by more than just me, ignored me and drove on by. Without thinking I dropped my nail bags and quickly sprinted to match the speed of the forklift. I launched off the earth toward the moving forklift like I was going up for a lay-up.
Mid jump the forklift turned…
My foot grazed the worn metal step on the side of the forklift. Just as I hit the dirt the back tire of forklift, where all the counterweight is, ran me over…
That’s the kind of dumb thing a fella just never forgets… the resulting aches and pains serve as a reminder.
You’d think that after over thirty five years later I’d be finished doing dumb things…
We had a get together New Year’s Eve. A couple times a year I light the fire feature on top of the water feature in the backyard. It’s a little hard to get to due to the fact that the features are located with a water slide around them… and it was raining… See where I’m going here?
I was pressed for time, but more importantly I still have some dumb notion that I’m invincible, even after having been shown the contrary a zillion times since the forklift incident.
Yes, I stepped cautiously, it’s even hard to type this, down a slide that is designed to be slick when wet in my rubber soled tennis shoes.
My back and wrist were what hit the tile covered concrete slide first. Blood, bruises, and a freshly aching back. My lifelong friends.
I could be a little more dull than most, but I think that most of us are prone to make the same type of mistakes over and over. We assume that we’re physically strong enough, or worse, spiritually strong enough to avoid doing dumb things.
Without the guidance and wisdom from God we do dumb things. Even after a lifetime of learning, we’re prone to wander.
It’s a New Year and I’m hoping and praying for you and me both to have one that will bring fewer dumb things that we’re all prone to… 😉
Ed Damas
Sunday, January 6, 2019 @ 4:40 pm
The older I get, the more dumber I get, the more dumber I get, the more dumber things I do. But God chose the dumber things in life to show us His greatness!
Martha J Orlando
Sunday, January 6, 2019 @ 6:27 pm
Oh, yes, Floyd, we still can do those dumber than dumb things when we should absolutely know better, can’t we? It takes great courage to admit we make wrong choices. And you know what? That’s all God wants from us. Admit the wrongs. Ask forgiveness. Go forward and sin no more.
Thank you for your candid admission here, so that all of us dumb folks out here don’t have to feel we’re not alone.
Blessings!
Hazel Irene Moon
Sunday, January 6, 2019 @ 8:33 pm
If it had not been raining you no doubt would have been able to complete your chore – – so sorry for your accident. A few days have passed, but Lord knows you must still be hurting. I do know what it is to fall when stepping on something slick in the rain. for me that was quite awhile back, but it does remind me to keep my feet planted on solid ground. WOW that fork lift could have killed you let along damage you. So sorry and I am sure you still hurt from that one too even though it was a few years back. Time marches on and us with it – – but this last accident was just that and not really a dumb thing. You were attempting to highlight the evening and that was a beautiful thing, rain and all it just didn’t turn out that beautiful.
Brad Gore
Sunday, January 6, 2019 @ 10:06 pm
That’s great. I hope your healing up by now. Next time we’re together, I’ll share just a couple of my latest ridiculous antics. Misery loves company
Thank you my friend
Diane Ronzino
Monday, January 7, 2019 @ 3:40 am
Oh, Floyd…you have such a way of writing that I can picture it all. I do have to say that a chuckle bubbled up from within at the “sight” of it all. I’m sorry about that.
Oh, we humans…sometimes I wonder if our antics bring a chuckle to God.
Pam
Monday, January 7, 2019 @ 4:55 am
Don’t you think God just watches us and slowly shakes his head in resigned disbelief when we do some of the things you refer to, Floyd? I am not sure if He chuckles or is deeply sad. For myself, I just want to give me a good kick in the pants or a Gibbs head-slap! Great writing, Floyd. Thanks.
bill (cycleguy)
Monday, January 7, 2019 @ 6:05 am
Who me? Do dumb things? Surely you have got to be kidding. I’ve never done a dumb thing….since yesterday. I rode 17.5 and that wasn’t bad. Not eating right or drinking right afterwards is. I’m sitting in small group and slam! an inner thigh leg cramp that seizes my whole upper leg. Think I’d learn since that was not the first, nor the second, nor the third…yeah you get the picture. And I have to agree with Pam about God’s perspective on spiritual things. I’ve gotten a lot of Gibbs head slaps.
Cheryl
Monday, January 7, 2019 @ 8:31 am
Oh, Floyd! I am SO sorry to hear of your pain! Both from the long-ago injury and the most recent one. You are in my prayers, and I trust God will send healing quickly. I am so thankful you didn’t break a bone or something worse. We all do things that we regret an instant later. I have lost count of the times I have done that throughout life, and we surely do end up paying for our mistakes. So thankful for God’s protection, even in our mistakes and missteps. Mom always told me that God allows trials to come to each one of us but along with the trials, He sends His mercy. Just this morning, I was feeling bad about not being able to keep a promise I made to Him and really beating myself up over it, and immediately, He brought that Scripture to my mind that He knows our frame and remembers that we are dust. I don’t think He is nearly as hard on us for our mistakes as we are hard on ourselves. So thankful for His forgiveness, grace, long-suffering, and mercy. I hope you feel much, much better very soon!
Betty J Draper
Tuesday, January 8, 2019 @ 6:39 pm
I am with Cheryl, God is not as hard on us as we are on ourselves. When a cuss words flies out of my mouth, ( notice I said when, not if), its usually when I do a dumb thing. My favorite is crap and my grand daughter reminds me that is slang for another word, she is too smart.
I know for sure I have become exceptionally clumsier in the last years, tripping over rugs, stubbing my toe, etc. And the forgetfulness is off the charts, leaving the burner on, not taking my meds, (like today), etc. No matter how hard I try these things will not decrease. I was on a ladder the other day straightening our small walk in closet and slipped, I did three steps down quicker then I went up them.
Thank God I was by myself . Do you think I told anyone in my family about my fall, not on your life.
When will I learn not to do dumb thing? Never.