TUGGIN’ ON SUPERMAN’S CAPE
There are some things in life that you’re just not supposed to do. The list is enormous, but there are some popular “don’t’s” that stand out. We heard them as kids and if a person is lucky enough to get old will probably repeat them.
“Don’t play with fire!” Did anyone, or maybe more accurate a question would be, did any boys ever keep that command? My mom didn’t catch me in the act, but she definitely knew someone had burned our cats whiskers off and it didn’t take a rocket scientist to figure out that I was the culprit.
We all know the rules, the do’s and don’t’s, but we tend to break them anyway. “No scuffling in the house!”I can’t remember how many stitches I’ve had from breaking that one. “Look both ways before you cross the street!” It took me a while before I started paying attention to that one too.
There were the so many as a kid how could we remember all of them? “Don’t pick your nose!” – “No double dipping!” Blah-blah-blah…
Jim Croce a popular folk/pop singer from the early seventies even had a song using some popular cultural fictional icons and common sense to make a point in the song, “Don’t Mess Around With Jim.” Here is the chorus, at least the way I remember it.
“You don’t tug on Superman’s cape
You don’t spit into the wind
You don’t pull the mask off the ole’ Lone Ranger
And you don’t mess around with Jim.”
Point made. Jim was a tough and dangerous guy. Although young, I understood the connection and enjoyed the bit of humor. If Jim was in the same category as Superman and the Lone Ranger, then Jim was one bad dude! I mean, only a fool would tug on Superman’s cape, spit into the wind, or pull the mask of the Lone Ranger!
Some more serious rules were talked about back then as well, namely the Ten Commandments, the Biblical belief or perspective that our country was founded on. I find it interesting that our society now kind of picks and chooses which of the Commandments they agree with for their life. Many of us will justify actions that come in contrast with the Commandments we do agree with.
A society that tries to enforce the rules like the Ten Commandments as rules or laws for life without acknowledging the sovereignty of the Law Giver perverts the laws. The first four rules or Commandments that our forefathers based our Constitution on are the laws that acknowledge the author of life and all laws- God himself.
The fifth law is more like the first four in that it’s about acknowledging and honoring someone else. In this case, it is our parents who God calls us to honor. Not that all parents deserve honoring but have you witnessed some people who haven’t honored their parents? What do their lives look like? Hummm. Maybe there is something to these laws after all?
The other laws most everyone agrees with, in general are, no murder, no adultery, no stealing, no lying, and no jealousy. The Commandments are obviously given in order of importance. If a person doesn’t think the first 5 have merit, they will certainly struggle with the last 5.
As a reminder to some who think we are evolving and becoming like “gods.” The standard we’re held to was defined by Jesus Christ. He reminded us that if we commit any of these acts in our minds we are guilty as if done in the flesh. With that as the standard of good, we all fall short… No wonder we need a Savior.
Looking back, tuggin’ on Superman’s cape and taking the mask off the ole’ Lone Ranger seems like harmless child’s play compared to mocking The Almighty…
Bt
Friday, April 1, 2011 @ 5:23 pm
I grew up on a farm and the one don’t that every farm kid knew was “don’t pee on the electric fence”! From time to time we’d get a realitive from the city come to visit and yep you guessed it … we told him to pee on the electric fence … dang that was funny!! My grandfather would chew me out in front of grandma and then laugh with me as she walked away.
On a serious note … to many people today fail to follow the Commandments, that’s the root of many problems in our society. Bt
Floyd
Friday, April 1, 2011 @ 5:50 pm
That’s too funny! That makes me cringe… You farm boys were as mean as anyone… I agree everyone these days wants to blame someone else for their failures or choices they’ve made. The days of “absolutes” are fast becoming a way of the past…
Jake
Friday, April 1, 2011 @ 10:25 pm
I’m with Bt, I always heard, “don’t pee into the wind” which reminds me… mostly kidding. Reverence is an interesting one for me, I fear God but I’m also His friend and frankly, violence is my love language (mostly threats, but still) SO… I cross lines. God’s been incredibly gracious with me though, which I’m incredibly grateful for!
Floyd
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 8:22 am
Well I feel like I’m in good company then as one of the “fellow trespassers”! It is all about God’s grace isn’t it? That wind can be an annoying thing sometimes!
Lainey
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 5:11 am
Unfortunately, we sometimes have to try various experiences, or feel
we might be missing out. That’s when it’s good to observe others, &
profit from their mistakes!
Floyd
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 8:24 am
You’re one of the “smart” people, most of us, my self included, learn the hard way. When we were young? Oh yeah, we’d tug on Superman’s cape just for a laugh, even if it meant getting the snot beat out of us!
Jennifer
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 5:57 am
Oh, I was cracking up at the beginning picturing you burning your poor cat’s whiskers! But you’re right–it’s very dangerous to pick and choose which of God’s rules we want to follow.
Floyd
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 8:26 am
I agree, when we pick and choose we are taking the on the role of God, I think that’s partially what He’s talking about when He said, “Thou shalt not take God’s name in vain.” The cat’s whiskers grew back amazingly fast!
Tammy
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 8:57 am
The ten commandments definitely have been whittled/watered down my society in general…the part about honoring your parents is a perfect example. It’s more like, “Honor your mother and father…unless they’re really strict and don’t let you stay out late.”
Floyd
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 11:04 am
I agree, in our societies attempt to give our children more than we had, we’ve left them with the idea that “they” are the center of the universe. We’ve fallen short of our goal which was to teach our children that what is inside, our character, is the only thing of real value in this life. As I reflect on my parents generation and the ones before that it’s easy to see how each generation has become a little more self-centered in general. I’m not excluding myself from the observation. When the schools mock the biblical principles on which this country was founded we become a little weaker as a nation with each one. The really frightening part is that they are blind to the fact of an ever failing societies mission. The further we fall in to deprivation as a society they point fingers and call for more legislation to in hopes of a repair, even though none of the made made laws have helped even a little. When man takes over the role of God, bad things are gonna happen. We’d be better off trying to wrestle an earthquake…
Jake
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 1:34 pm
Floyd, I wrote a post after reading this… it isn’t necessarily related other than imagery, but I’d like to link up to it, if you’re alright with it!
Floyd
Saturday, April 2, 2011 @ 8:42 pm
Go ahead Jake I’m good with anything. Headed over to check it out now…
jakel
Sunday, April 3, 2011 @ 7:09 am
it actually won’t be up for a couple of days, I’m actually four posts out right now, it feels GOOD to be ahead of the game!
Floyd
Sunday, April 3, 2011 @ 9:42 am
Oh thanks, now I feel left behind! I’ve never been more than one up at a time and that only twice… The story of my life…
Pat Bowling
Sunday, April 3, 2011 @ 6:56 pm
This is a definite “must read”. Love it!!
P.S. I was a BIG fan of Jim Croce…
Floyd
Sunday, April 3, 2011 @ 7:02 pm
Thanks Pat, I still am a huge Jim Croce fan. Operator, Time In A Bottle, Bad Bad Leroy Brown, to name just a few, what a talent. I think you and I have a similar music pallet.