Reece Gardner: Lessons to be learned from 'Old Rivers'

I love that description of all of us proclaimed by Allen McIntosh that we are walking, talking, living breathing miracles, born in the Image of God, and bound for the Promised Land." We are in some ways "Unique," while at the same time being a lot alike. When we really LISTEN to what others say and do, we realize that we are definitely not in this world alone.

To illustrate that, I want to share Walter Brennan's presentation of "Old Rivers," from the album of the same name, which rose to the top of the Charts and is still in play today on the Internet and elsewhere.

Here it is:
"How old was I when I first seen old Rivers? I can't remember when he weren't around. Well, that old fellow did a heap of work, spent his whole life walking plowed ground. He had a one-room shack not far from us and, well, we were almost as poor as him. He had one old mule he called Midnight, and I'd trail along after them. He used to plow them rows straight and deep, and I'd come along close behind, A-Bustin' up clods with my own bare feet, Old Rivers was a friend of mine.

The sun would get high, and that mule would work, till old Rivers would say "Whoa!" He'd wipe his brow, lean back on the reins, and talk about a place he was gonna go. He'd say, 'One of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain, walk up there among the clouds, where the cotton's high, and the corn's a-growin', and there ain't no fields to plow.'

I got a letter today from the folks back home, they're all fine and the crops is dry. Down at the end of the letter my Mama said 'Son, I guess you knowed old Rivers died.;' Just sittin' here now on this new plowed earth, trying to find myself a little shade, with the sun beating down, across the river I see, That mule, old Rivers, and ME.

So one of these days I'm gonna climb that mountain, and walk up there among the clouds, where the cotton's high and and the corn's a-growing, and there ain't no fields to plow."

There are so many emotions in that presentation: Love, Hope, Sadness, and finally, VICTORY, and we can relate to everyone of them!
Now to close on a humorous note: One of the Russian ambassadors comes to President Putin and tells him he wants to resign. "Why?, Putin asks him, "Ah, Mr. President, I can't find myself with all these time differences. I fly to another country, call home, and everyone's asleep. I last woke you up at 4 in the morning, but I thought it was only evening.

I call Angela Merkel to congratulate her on her birthday, and she tells me her birthday was yesterday. I wish a Chinese ambassador a Happy New Year, and he tells me it will be tomorrow."

"Well, these are just minor inconveniences," says Putin. "Do you remember when that Polish plane crashed with their president?

Well, I called them to express my condolences, but the plane hadn't even taken off yet!"

HAVE A REALLY WONDERFUL DAY!