Donald Duck Hats

 During Spring Break 1990, when I was 9 years old, my dad, mom and I took our first and only trip to Walt Disney World. It was quite the whirlwind trip. We drove down one day....and I mean that it took the whole day to get from Geneva County to our hotel in Kissimmee, FL, (As an aside, I have no clue how it took that long to get there.) We spent one day in the Magic Kingdom and came back the day after. 

While at the Magic Kingdom, we rode few rides. My parents were not theme park people. Most memorably, we did ride the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea ride, which was retired many years ago. 

Before we left, I wanted to get some token to remember our trip by. I was too cool for the Mickey Mouse ears hats. No, I wanted a Donald Duck hat, complete with Donald's sailor hat, eyes, and a bill that contained Donald's tongue and looked like Donald's, well, bill. 

Truly unsurprisingly, if you knew Randall Hall, no Donald Duck hat was purchased. 

This past June, Jessica, Abby, and I took our first trip to Walt Disney World. What was at the top of my purchase list as a 41 year old man? You guessed it: a Donald Duck hat. 

No, I had not held a grudge against my father for 30 years over a Donald Duck chapeau. I was not bitter and mostly never thought about it again. Really, it was more like bringing things full circle, for me. 

After I got the hat, I thought about it a lot. About why it was important to me to get it, and also why I didn't get one when I was 9. 

My family has never been rich. My family, for the most part, wasn't even what people would call comfortable. My grandfather never owned property. As daddy grew up, they moved often and lived in many different houses along a 5 mile stretch in southern Geneva County. My grandfather was a tenant farmer: every time he changed employers, they changed houses, to live on property owned by the new employer. 

There wasn't a lot of "extra" to go around for frivolous things. Like Donald Duck hats. 

My dad was, for most of his life, very practical and pragmatic. There wasn't a lot of sentimentality attached to things. Souvenirs weren't practical. 

There was a part of me that questioned why a ten dollar character hat was a deal breaker. 

Daddy would say to me that he didn't gamble, that he wouldn't even play penny poker because he didn't want to lose a penny. It wasn't so much about the hat or the cost as it was a mindset. A practical mindset that considered the souvenir as wasteful. 

As a thought about the wonderful vacation Jessica, Abby, and I were on, I realized something. The same mindset that was passed down to me was what had allowed us to have the ability to be on that vacation. That allowed us to buy Abby (and ourselves) the souvenirs and tokens of remembrance that we wanted (and not be broke when we came back).

I have, over the years, realized a few things about how we think of our parents. There are many times that we are resentful of our upbringing. We look at our childhood disappoints and inwardly criticize our parents for how they raised us, how they didn't provide EVERYTHING we wanted. 

Well, we don't need EVERYTHING we want. And the lessons they teach us, the things they instill in us are for us to be better. 

So really, Daddy (and mama) are the reason this 41 year old has a Donald Duck hat from Walt Disney World. 

Daddy, Thanks for the hat. 

Grumbling

 I have been reluctant to share the following thoughts. As you read this, please remember that, in general, when I write it is not to call out any particular individual or group. Rather, I am trying to provoke thought and consideration. I believe we are all on a journey and sometimes a different perspective can help further that journey. 

As the Covid-19/coronavirus pandemic has worn on, I have witnessed and continue to witness a great deal of grumbling. And, perhaps, that is understandable, to an extent. Our "normal" lives have been subjected to a good deal of abnormality. There are things we were accustomed to doing that we no longer can do as we did. There are inconveniences that we have never had, there are situations that we have never encountered. 

But then I am reminded of Philippians 2:14-16, and what Paul says to the church at Philippi.

Let's consider what the author that wrote "do all things without grumbling" endured through the course of his ministry. 

On the day he comes to know Christ, he is stricken blind. He was hunted down by his former colleagues in persecution of the church. He was stoned, presumably to death or close to death, and survived. He was falsely accused and imprisoned. He was shipwrecked. He was bitten by a snake. Oh and all this before he was ultimately executed. I'm sure I'm leaving a few things out. 

So tell me what it is we have to grumble about? 

Paul tells the Corinthians this in First Corinthians 10:9 and 10:

Those described by Paul had their "normal lives" interrupted. They could not do the things they were accustomed to doing. There were inconveniences they had never had and situations that they had never encountered. 

So we can see that God is not pleased with grumbling in general. We're not talking about questions. God is big enough that he is not disturbed by our questions. When Gideon asks (paraphrasing here) "if God is for us, why has all this happened to us?" he is not struck down. In fact, he is reassured that God is with him in the task that has been placed before Gideon. 

Grumbling is complaining without really wanting to be a part of the solution. It's like saying to God "I'm not happy with the way you're directing my life and you need to fix it RIGHT NOW!"

If we could, for a minute, set aside a few things. Let's set aside our political leanings. Let's set aside our ideas about where all this came from and what the end game is. Let's lay down our opinions. 

Have you laid those down? Ok great. 

Now, let's look at the world around us. There are people who are very sick. There are people who are dying. There are people who are crushed from losing family members. There is a world that is very much tired and hurting and needs compassion. 

We're quick to quote 2 Chronicles 7:14. But how much are we doing that? Have we prayed for healing in our land? Have we asked God to lift this plague from our nation and from this world? 

I fear that we've spent far more time grumbling about our inconveniences and pointing figures and trying to figure out who to blame than we have specifically asked for God to bring a healing to our land. Yes, there are much deeper issues that need to be worked out in the hearts and lives of people. But we need to address the immediate need. 

Why don't we start right now? Pray this with me. 

Jesus, I am guilty of grumbling. I have worried too much about my earthly inconveniences. Lord, please forgive me of this grumbling. 

Jesus, I ask you to lift this plague from our land. Lord, please bring healing to all those who have been affected by this disease. Please, Lord help all those who have been affected. Uplift the hearts of those who have lost loved ones. Give strength and hope to those on the front lines, our medical professionals who are trying their best to help each person. God, bring healing and turn our hearts toward you. We are facing a very difficult time, but we know you are far more powerful than any of our difficulties. Thank you Lord Jesus for your gift of salvation. It is in your name we pray. Amen.