I've tried my best to stay cool these past couple of weeks. The only trouble was that our office was being remodeled and all the windows had to be replaced. In an old building like the Train Station, replacing windows is no easy task. Each one had to be painstakingly removed, then the trim and framing reset to accept the new windows.
If that wasn't bad enough, they also decided to replace all the doors. Well, you can imagine that our air conditioners were working overtime trying to cool off Bentonville. So hard in fact, that Thursday one of them decided to call it quits. It was 86 degrees inside when we arrived that morning and that was the cool temperature of the day. Just when I thought I couldn't stand it anymore, a special friend sent me an e-mail that tickled my fancy and made me realize that even in the worst of times, if we can find humor, it helps us weather even the "weather."
She wrote: "It's Sooooo Hot ! The birds have to use potholders to pull worms out of the ground. "In fact, she said," the trees are whistling for the dogs. "The e-mail continued with some very funny one-liners that I thought I'd share with you. "The best parking place is determined by shade instead of distance. Hot water now comes out of both taps. You can make sun tea instantly."
"You discover that in July it only takes two fingers to steer your car. You discover that you can get sunburned through your car window and you actually burn your hand opening the car door."
Since the road crews are also busy outside my office the next line was even timelier. "You realize that asphalt has a liquid state."
My father would have really chuckled at the next one: "The potatoes cook underground, so all you have to do is pull one out and add butter, salt and pepper. "In fact, the article said," Farmers are feeding their chickens crushed ice to keep them from laying boiled eggs. And, finally," the cows are giving evaporated milk. "Well, those lines didn't cool me off but I did forget about the heat for a moment or two.
When I think of all the people just in the United States right now - sweltering in 100 degree plus weather - who don't have electricity or who can't afford air conditioning, I realize that my laughter about the one liners has another side, a dark side at that.
However, I am awed by the acts of kindness I read about where people are taking action to help others in need. I see heroic acts being performed in the face of war and terror. It tells me that while God would much rather see us laugh than cry, be happy than sad, and even be cool instead of hot - but in all things God is there with us. Seems to me that even though it's sooo hot, the weather's going to change, the seasons will come and go, and our lives will be made better when we try to walk in God's path and help others in times of need. Yes, it is soooo hot. But even so, we can be thankful that we have a home to go to, work to do, and friends who love us enough to check on us and help us through the hottest of days. Shalom !
• • • Bob Haynes'column appears on Mondays.
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