Stand Here: Where wishes really do come true

Therefore put on the full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand.

—Ephesians 6:13

One after another, people stepped up on the sidewalk and paused for a moment right in front of me and my friend, Joyce, as we enjoyed our meal from the restaurant’s outdoor dining area. At first I thought it was strange. What are they doing? But when I saw the imprint in the concrete, I understood. “Stand here to make your next wish” it read, and an outline beckoned the feet, mine included.

I wondered what the others had wished for. They didn’t dare tell, because as the old saying goes, if you tell a wish, it won’t come true.

It was fun, standing and wishing in that same place where others had stood, silently offering their own wishes. But the old saying is just superstition. Of course, sharing your wish with another does not disqualify it from fruition. Sharing your wish may spur another on to encourage your pursuit. And that’s exactly what happened with Joyce.

When the Enemy Prowls: Tomatoes Take Two

Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.—1 Peter 5:8-9

 

I fumbled for my house keys in the dark, as I stepped over my tomato plants, which were spilling onto the sidewalk. Why didn’t someone leave the light on? I thought, as I made my way onto the back deck. Suddenly, a flash of black and white caught my eye.  I turned to my side and faced a furry creature with its fluffy tail lifted in my direction.  My breath caught in my throat.  Oh, no! One wrong move and I’ll be doused with eau de skunk!  My heart beat harder than Ringo Starr, and my fingers shook like Elvis as I struggled to unlock the door to escape the perilous situation. The door flung open and I flew in, slamming it hard behind me. Whew, that was close!

But that wasn’t the end of our escapades with the skunk. The next evening my son-in-law Ricky experienced his own close call with the nighttime visitor on the deck. And the following night we saw him again. As our car pulled into the driveway, the headlights illuminated the deck, revealing our caller scavenging from the cat food dish.  Ricky blew the horn, while Emma and I protested, fearing the retaliation of our frightened guest. To our surprise, the scavenger scampered off the deck right down into the crawlspace opening. Now what?