We should have seen it coming, by the fact that it quit coming. To some
the coming of age, to others the last good bye to childhood. For a generation a
changing of the guard as we grew up, to some, a refusal to give up hopes and
dreams. This can be attributed to many things, many occurrences in our lives,
but this one in particular was common ground for all kids, no matter the age,
race, creed, living conditions, or postal code. And I miss it...one of the best
memories of childhood. The Sears Christmas Toy Catalog, or the Wish Book as it
came to be known. What kid didn’t get antsy before Thanksgiving, a week off
from school, Turkey Day, and the arrival of the STC-WB? Pity the poor mailmen
who delivered them, and once they arrived, were fought over by all the kids in
residence. Here were all the toys, prices, and even shipping weights, a chance
to practice our note taking, our basic math, and figure out shipping costs.
Then present it the Santas in residence, our parents, and count the days until
Christmas. And compare our take to our notes afterwards. A book I always
thought was mostly for boys, with some girl’s stuff thrown in. And even a
section of adult stuff, the only times I knew of an adult looking at it was with
a kid, carefully pulling out and replacing the bookmarks placed on each page.
Later I was told it was for us kids to buy something for our parents, early
marketing by Sears. They were read every night, hid under pillows to reread
after dark, and immediately after Christmas Day relegated to the trash man. And
then only 10.5 more months until the cycle repeated itself....
Now I should have seen it coming, from my Boy Scout days. One of our
troops big events was delivering phone books. Something we looked forward to,
for it meant riding in the back of pickups on the tail gate, running to front
doors and leaving them, and on to the next. In our pick up starved suburb,
station wagons were the big thing, remember this was the mid-sixties, and one
particular Saturday spent on the tail gate of a 1959 Plymouth, hanging onto the
fins that announced “suddenly it’s 1960” was memorable. I must have lifted over
a million pounds that day, tore my fingers to pieces, and never slept so good
afterwards. And had so much fun. And when I went to work for Sears in 1971, my
senior year, the STC-WB’s no longer were mailed, you came to the store to get
one, I must have unloaded millions of them. Fingers shredded, arms and backs
aching, they came bundled together in tens, I still can feel those sharp straps
we grabbed them by, adult paper cuts that never healed until January. And my
STC-WB days were changing, and I never wanted to see one again. Other catalogs
would soon replace it, J.C. Whitney, Honest Charlie’s Speed Shop in Chattanooga,
Summit Racing Supply, and others, as now the price of toys rose as cars and
motorcycles entered the picture. Already in debt over girls, it seems the days
of catalogs never ends, but just tapers off. Today with the Internet surpassing
big box stores for shopping, online catalogs are everywhere, from everyone.
Sadly a generation will never get to see how much fun we had turning the pages,
sitting at the table with our parents, and figuring out how much of their budget
we could submit to Santa. Something about a flat screen, a page that cannot be
turned, and no written lists to erase and update seems impersonal. Now they
even tell us buy a certain amount and the shipping is free, which is
automatically calculated for you, no wonder math skills have been degraded.
Maybe the most important and most over looked book of growing up is gone....I
wonder if Honest Charlie’s still mails out catalogs with decals?
A popular question found in Christian circles is “are you in the word?”
Some trying to brag of countless hours stooped over an open Bible memorizing, to
some an encouragement when your life takes a turn. Pastors encourage, teachers
schedule, but how many just pick up the Bible to read because we want to? Not
to study, but just to read, and watch as the spirit opens our eyes? Maybe a
verse that will keep you all week, or a chapter you keep going back to, but how
many of us look at our Bibles like we looked at the STC-WB? Do we look forward
to reading and spending time in the word? Were you ever busted for reading your
Bible under the covers by flashlight? Were your kids? But my usual comeback
when asked, is “is the word in you?” There is a difference. Some carry a Bible
everywhere, including their i-something. Some have multiple ones, quoting
scripture than the version. Greek to English, Jewish to English, NIV, NLT, NAS,
KJV, and NKJV, and the list goes on. So I ask you, “is the word in you?” Does
your life reflect Jesus Christ, who is the word? Is Jesus in you? Your
thoughts, actions, attitudes, and lifestyle? Do you quote it more than live
it? Is the word truly written on your hearts, or has it become a study instead
of a life led by the spirit? Is the word in you?
Upon salvation we are given the holy spirit, how many of us try to go it
alone, when the spirit is there to guide and remind? To warn and give wisdom?
To give us peace, and to have a special time of fellowship? To get spiritual
insight no lesson can provide, because the spirit reveals the mysteries of
Christ. And it comes in a version you can have with you always, even under the
covers. No flashlights needed. In a crowd, the spirit gives insight,
direction, and words you need. Are you in the word, or is the word in
you?
With so much talk of the early church, and how we should model ourselves
after them, do we need to be reminded they were 1400+ yeas before the printing
press? No Barnes and Nobles, no internet, no KWVE to listen to, they had the
word written on their hearts. Paul had no books in prison, yet under the spirit
wrote most of the New Testament. John had no writing supplies on Patmos, yet
the spirit wrote Revelation on his heart to be written down later. In both
cases, Jesus the word was in them. Now are you studying to be approved, to be
tested, or does the Bible have the appeal of the STC-WB? Do you believe Santa
is coming more than you believe Jesus is coming? Take some time today, ask God
to reveal his spirit within you. And after he talks to you, prove it in his
word. That is studying to find yourself approved, testing the spirit to see if
it is of God. And if he talks in a language other than NIV or others, it is
because he speaks your language, and knows your heart. No ye’s and thee’s
there. And his words are gently written there, no mistakes about it. And much
lighter than the Wish Book. Ask God via his spirit to give you a desire for him
and his word, and watch as the word is in you and changes your life. Oh, and by
the way, the shipping is free. Is your favorite wish book the Bible? Why wish
when you can have....
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com