People Are Always Looking For A Sign

     

    February 2nd has come. There were many people gathered with an eye focused on one animal to give them a sign whether we would experience an early spring or extended winter. Six (6) more weeks of winter is the verdict.

    Punxsutawney Phil came out of his house and did his shadow, so we will have a late Spring. As long as I can remember, I have heard about this animal informing the waiting masses about the season. I checked my calendar and noticed that Spring will arrive on March 20, 2022. 

    From years of gardening, I can tell you if the calendar does not have Spring in March, then expect cold whether until it shows up in April. Being in a southern state, I have always taken chances and planted certain plants before I was supposed to. Of course, I had to keep a watchful eye on the weather to be prepared to cover them up when an unexpected cold snap occurred. In the South people will not plant flowers until after Easter which is April 17, 2022. So, take it from me, it's going to be winter weather until April 17, 2022. 

    Phil has had to share the spotlight with other animals in our human efforts to obtain a sign to give us some type of advantage in one thing or another or to make us feel better about our choices or the direction we are headed in. 

     Paul the Octopus hatched January 2008 and died October 26, 2010. His life began humbly in Weymouth, England but ended in stardom. He lived his life in a tank at Sea Life Center in Oberhausen, Germany. He was known for correctly predicting the winner of each German national football team's seven matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as the outcome of the final. I remember seeing him on television and lauded as a wonder. 

    Amani, a 37-year-old gorilla picked the Saints to win in the Super bowl faceoff between Indianapolis and New Orleans. Amani is a Gorilla at the Fort Worth Zoo. It was her first time selecting a Super bowl winner. 

    People pray to God for a sign about many things in desperation trying to decide on serious issues. Then there are those who receive signs from God all the time and they proclaim it to everyone they see. These people go on to say they have the gift of prophesy and can tell you are going to receive money or a healing of your body, and it easy our mind and spirit. Church leaders have a large following with a leader predicting financial blessings sure to come. People even ask for a sign whether their significant other is cheating on them. Psychics, preachers, horoscope predictors, and prophets/prophetess make big money telling people their future. 

     These predictions are not life altering that the animals make. But it goes to show the length we as humans will go to have a sign to make us feel better about our choices. As with everything else in life, the Bible has a famous man who needed a sign from God to ensure he was making the right choice. Gideon was a famous judge of Israel who delivered the Israelites from oppression by defeating the mighty Midianite army with a force of only 300 warriors. Gideon came from an obscure family of the tribe of Manasseh, but he trusted God at every step of his military campaign. Well, this is only partially true.

     Gideon was out threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said, "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." The angel (LORD) told Gideon to go and save Israel out of Midian's hand. Gideon quickly informed the angel (LORD) that he was from the weakest clan and that he was the least in his clan. Even though the Lord said he would be Gideon; Gideon needed more; give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Before fully taking on his mission given to him by God, he requested that a fleece he placed on the threshing floor be covered with dew in the morning while all of the area around it remains dry. When that came to pass just as Gideon asked, he requested yet another sign, a dry fleece in the morning and the surrounding area dry. When this came to pass, Gideon was able to go forward with the Lord at his side (Judges 3-8). 

    Gideon is listed as one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32. It seems man will always need some sort of sign and we look in any and every direction to find one. We ask for a sign for the serious matters of the heart and the not so serious matters of everyday living. My life would have less anxiety if I could be given a sign to tell me what the best choices are to make as a wife or as a writer. But life is not that simple, and you may end up asking for a sign to make sure you are supposed to follow the sign. With every choice we make there will always be timidity. The only way to take the edge off of not being sure is to follow the mandates of Jesus. Some of his teachings may be hard to follow at times, but in the long wrong; they usually make the outcomes of the future a little easier to live with.

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