As we progress through the spring, summer, and fall, numerous events and activities are competing for our attention and patronage. We are bombarded with a lengthy list of events to choose. They all seem innocent enough. What could possibly go wrong by attending the local music festival?
The local art gallery run by local artists are offering classes every evening during the summer for those who would like to learn. They are of course offered for free in the evenings at the art gallery itself. Classes can run anywhere from 3-5 hours. The lady who is the chairman of the board of the local community of like minded artists goes to our church and teaches at the local Christian elementary school. She’s totally safe. Right? What could possibly go wrong?
The annual Dragon Boat Race is coming up? Make sure your team spends lots of time together practicing for their performance in the race. Wouldn’t want to finish last! That would be so disappointing. You could always train harder and grow in strength and come back again next year! Wait. My nephew’s graduation is that weekend and I wanted to travel to see it. Decisions decisions. What could possibly go wrong?
The burning of the whicker man festival is just around the corner. Get your stupidly expensive tickets now before they sell out. Be sure to make all the travel arrangements. Bring as many friends as you can. Make sure you make a really great costume. Of course, you’re going to need to have a bicycle decorated for traveling around the “playa.” Hmm. I gotta get my hands on some of that legal marijuana. I wanted to try it last year, but for some reason I didn’t. What could possibly go wrong?
Make sure you “like” these various activities on social media! Share with your friends!!
The annual “Gala” is coming up! Gotta get that really sexy dress to wear. It’s really important to be seen looking my best for this years’ Gala! Hmm. The other women who attend the Gala are so much prettier than me. I should start preparing to get skinnier to get into the Gala. Wasn’t there a Bible passage I heard recently about a narrow gate or getting skinnier to get through that most important gate? I dunno, but I gotta get skinny for the Gala dress I just bought! I’m gonna look sexy with my friends. My husband will probably get drunk again this year. It was terrible last year.
Wait. The local art gallery and artist community are the ones who put on that creepy annual scarecrow festival that gives me a really bad feeling and I am starting to spend 3-5 hours a week inside their art gallery allowing them to teach me, to grow me, to influence me by giving me feedbak of my performance while going inside their tent of meeting? They do their monthly meetings and planning meetings at the art gallery now that I mention it. Hmm. I also have to attend my church weekly so that my church can grow me, teach me, and influence me by giving me feedback on my behaviors while going inside the tent of meeting. That one only requires 1 hour per week though.
Why does the local artist community require 3-5 hours weekly of regular attendance.
We have heard all the examples. We have lived our own examples. We have watched some examples in horror. What about the times where we regret every having attended, because we are still dealing with the consequences of going? How many affairs and unexplainable one night stands come out of some of these events?
Why was my wife so frustrated with me that I have another 6 hour Sunday golf tournament I have to attend because I have really been practicing at the range all winter long for 3 hours per week. Why is she always nagging me to go to Church on Sunday? It’s so boring…
Why did I blow up at my husband when I got home and he tried to protect his family by doing the research I failed to do and found some really concerning information about my spending 3-5 hours a week attending my local artist water color painting course? Before I left, we had such an amazing day. I don’t see why he was frustrated that I completely ignored and disregarded his warnings. He’s wrong about this new artistic endeavor I don’t really have an explanation for starting, except my mom invited me! I love spending time with my mom doing crafts.
What if I spent 15 minutes researching what the group sponsoring the event was really about, the location they wanted me to go, and the activities that would be available? What damage could be prevented? We complain about paying our insurance premiums that are entirely built on consequence of our actions. We do things to lower our insurance prevmiums $50 a month like wearing a pace counter or other device, but we don’t see value in evaluating our participation in various other activities and groups?
You mean my ignorance of the demonic spiritual powers of darkness could cause me to hurt the ones who I cherish the most? You mean I could be engaging in sin by participating? Pfft. That’s not possible, I read my Bible and go to mass or church.
The consequence of failure to do so can be catastrophic and eternal.
Where to begin… Let’s start with definitions. They matter. Words matter. Words can tell us everything we need to know. Unwritten and unspoken words can tell us far more.
We run across these all the time, but do we really consider what they are about based simply on their name? Examples include Harvest Festival, Pumpkin Festival, Planting Festival, Music Festival, Scarecrow Festival, Holloween Festival, etc.