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If only
Off the Wall
Oct. 13, 2011
It's a sound fact.
We live by acts we've learned in the past. Many times we trip
in the holes of life only to learn that by walking around them
we can avoid bruises and actual scrapings of our knees.
Wow, what an intro!
It's true. Looking back, how many times have we proclaimed those
famous two words - "If only?" You've done it. I've
done it. A matter of fact, we've all done it. There's a lot of
human nature tied into those two little words.
Let's look at the word, "If." If the person who came
up with "if" never would have thought of those two
letters, then maybe we wouldn't have had "If only"
in our vocabulary. But face it, it's here and here to stay.
So, let's talk about the positive "ifs" before moving
into the "if onlys."
Here's a saying with which most everyone is familiar - "If
the shoe fits, wear it." It may have started out with a
covering for one's foot, but now it applies to a lot of other
references. What comes to my mind is, "If Danny Buck prefers
using a rifle over a shotgun, go for it." "If flowers
look better in a large glass than a vase, why not?" "If
Debbie Dawson can ride a boy's bike just as well as a girl's
two-wheeler, let her do it."
How 'bout this saying - "If it's good for the goose, it's
good for the gander." When we start being compared to what
geese do, I think we are beginning to ruffle some feathers.
In any case, we can come up with any number of examples, so I
won't elaborate other than to say, if it's good enough for Darren,
then it must be good also for Dale as well.
Now what complicates the matter of "If" is adding the
word "Only." I don't know about you, but my mind is
jam-crammed with those two words followed by experiences of which
I can do nothing about, except to say, they act as a teacher
to all who want to learn that there are two ways to skin a cat
(gruesome saying if you ask me).
Looking back, and by the way, all of these are true, if only
I had a subject that stimulated my interest, I would have liked
to pursue a teaching career, because God has graced me with so
much patience to teach others, stuff. If only when the girl at
a local restaurant made me a banana split, would have put in
the banana, it would have been the real thing.
And third, and most important, if I would have learned directly
from Father Jim Martin of St. Ignatius Church, Austin, TX, that
he is an associate pastor there and not pastor and that he was
never a pastor at Holy Family Church even though his picture
appeared in the 2006 Holy Family Church membership directory
along with other parishioners, the article in The Latrobe
Bulletin concerning his tie in with the publishing of my
book, would have been more factual. According to Father Martin,
he was just visiting the Parish when he spoke to me.
No one plans to do things other than the way he thinks is right
or best at the time. I guess "if onlys" could be construed
properly, they may fall into the same categories as "just
maybes." I can just hear someone say "Just maybe, if
only, I could win the lottery Don't be so quick to think that
bags of the green stuff will lead to easy living.
Just before writing this column, I was led to biblical scripture
verses that talked about this very thing. 1 Timothy 6:10 - "For
the love of money is the root of all evils, and some people in
their desire for it have strayed from the faith and have pieced
themselves with many pains. 11. But you, man of God, avoid all
this. Instead, pursue righteousness, devotion, faith, love, patience
and gentleness. 12. Compete well for the faith. Lay hold of eternal
life, to which you were called when you made the noble confession
in the presence of many witnesses."
If only we could recognize ahead the two choices we may have
in doing one thing or another, then, we wouldn't have to use
those famous two words. But, I still believe we all try our hardest
to do our very best. With that said, there are going to be times
we fall into temptation of taking the easy way out, maybe, or
drawn to something or someone by our senses. No one wants to
hear, "You should have thought about that first." Sometimes
we do, and it still doesn't work out. If only I make one suggestion,
let it be this - think whatever you do, through, and then maybe
you won't have to concede, "If only"
Paul J. Volkmann
Written: October 4, 2011
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