Wait, THESE are the intellects?
I dissent.
Perhaps it’s a result of getting older, maybe it’s the reality of trying to raise godly, upright kids, or maybe it’s because I think too much, but I’m finding a lot of stuff strikes me as crazy these days. I’m not talking about the, “haha, that’s funny” kind of crazy. I mean the legitimately, “there’s no way a sane person can actually do or believe that” kind of crazy.
For instance, I saw a news release from travel and entertainment reporters recently that documented the longest-ever wait time had been endured by guests at the Walt Disney World resort in Florida. Since my family loves going there and I’m quite familiar with the joint, I was curious what ride or attraction had set the record. I could have never been prepared for what I found when I clicked on the link:
“Disney World parkgoers are no strangers to long lines — but one lengthy queue at Epcot's International Festival of the Arts is surprising even some die-hard fans. One of the biggest draws of opening day is a limited-edition popcorn bucket shaped like the beloved purple dragon Figment. He's best known as Epcot's mascot and the star of the Journey Into Imagination ride. Park employees told the Disney Food Blog that the wait was estimated to be approximately six and a half hours at around 10:30 a.m.”
Yes, seriously, they waited 6 hours for a popcorn bucket that looks like a purple dinosaur.
Legitimately crazy, no?
Or how about this – I got an email from a Christian ministry I chose to follow several years ago. The ministry was focused on keeping Christians informed of the news that should matter to them. That’s something I really believe in, so I signed up. I’ve tried multiple times to unsubscribe but I continue getting alerts from them.
The latest issue I needed to be alerted to? I was being asked to sign a petition threatening to boycott M&Ms if they move forward with their plan to make their M&M characters “more inclusive” on commercials.
“Mars, Incorporated, the company behind the colorful, candy-coated chocolates, announced Thursday a ‘global commitment to creating a world where everyone feels they belong and society is inclusive.’”
You know what’s crazy? Thinking you can make a candy that is nearly every color of the rainbow “more inclusive.” You know what else is crazy? Thinking that threatening a company not to move forward with such a silly plan needs to be one of the top items of concern for Christians today. Set the Great Commission to the side, we have candy wars to fight. Crazy.
And then, the topper? Check this out:
Imagination? The creativity of D.C. has pretty much been reduced to little more than their admittedly remarkable ability to find new things to tax.
Integrity? Hush money, corruption, moral failings, pride, a cut-throat pursuit of power at all costs. Members on intelligence committees supposedly getting caught up in adulterous affairs with Chinese spies. Just stop.
Intelligence? All I can do here is point towards one of the greatest moments in the history of congressional hearings. Watch as Rep. Hank Johnson, a member of Speaker Nancy Pelosi’s collection of the “most intelligent,” asks a military officer if it’s possible the island of Guam might tip over – that’s right, whether the island might capsize – because of too many pieces of military equipment weighing it down. How this officer kept his composure I will never know:
Magnificent. Any profession that what we see in the halls of Congress represents the best and brightest, the “greatest collection of intellect, integrity, and imagination” anywhere is legitimately crazy.
I’ve never been so convinced that the smartest people among us are the ones you will never find behind lecterns or podiums; that the people with the greatest character among us are the ones you will never see behind pulpits or authoring books about integrity; that the people with the greatest imaginations among us are the ones you’ll never find publishing books and short stories.
They are hidden gems, scattered in places throughout the world that lack a spotlight. They are the ones staying up late to figure out a clever way to teach their son how to do that Algebra problem he’s struggling with, the ones leaving their job each day and stopping by the soup kitchen to work an anonymous shift before heading home, the ones telling fantastic stories of knights and princesses to help their little girl forget her fear of the nighttime thunderstorm and drift off to sleep.
Those are the people, not the ones writing laws that will be outdated tomorrow, who will leave a real legacy.
Those are the people, not the ones jumping behind every spotlight, microphone, and camera they can find, who make the biggest impact.
Those are the people that make this world just a little less crazy and a little more wholesome. Lord, make me one of those people.
ICYMI…
After our president’s recent angry and divisive speech in Georgia, I had to ask a question. So I made this video…
Also, who here is surprised that the media has decided that the one person in the world worse than Donald Trump may be the next guy the Republicans run for president? I wrote about that completely predictable reality right here:
Can you send these emails out with warning labels, please? When I got to the comment by Pelosi, I was so taken aback that I laughed until I coughed and I coughed until I almost choked. Maybe some kind of flashing red star or a "brace yourself" alert or something?
Although, I'm at least glad to know that I'm not the only one who says, at least once a day, "What world are we living in?"
Makes me think of those verses:
“For although they knew God, they did not honor him as God or give thanks to him, but they became futile in their thinking, and their foolish hearts were darkened.
Claiming to be wise, they became fools…”
Romans 1:21-22 (ESV)