Signs and Wonders
In a workplace washroom, the boss placed a sign directly above the sink with a single word on it - "THINK!"
The next day, he visited the men's room, looked at the sign and saw below it, immediately above the soap dispenser, someone had carefully lettered another sign which read - "THOAP!"
Clever signs have a great appeal to me. I enjoy too the quick wit of those who can come up with a humorous reply. I think I have mentioned before the huge roadside sign in what are determined as “fatigue areas” by our road safety experts. The sign meant to be read by passengers says “Is your driver alert?” I have seen one such sign under which some one has roughly written “The world needs more lerts”.
I remember a signwriter who had at his business amongst many other signs on display one which I wondered about for many years. It must have been in my early days as a reader that I was shown the sign. It was a slogan for a one man business and as a sales message it said simply "I made signs before I could talk". I think my father’s sense of humour encouraged me to see the signs as made with skill with brush and paints. A few simple questions like how did he know how to make the letters and how did he know how to spell kept me wondering. For a long time he encouraged me to wonder about it and I think maybe he encouraged me to see it as a talent the man was born with. I definitely had it in the nature not nurture list of abilities. Let me assure you I understand the sign now. (Do you?)
A survey by a newspaper asked readers to nominate useless signs. I think I have a few that I could add to the list. I have often wondered who was the city official who placed a sign which says slow vehicles must keep left (we drive on the left side of the road) just near the beginning of the Western Freeway out of Brisbane. I imagine myself as a truck driver reading the sign and moving over into the left lane. About the time the truck gets over into the left lane there is a sign which says that the left lane ends soon. Duh!
One of the signs that I have often wondered about ran high in the list of useless signs in the newspaper survey was the yellow diamond shaped sign which says “Baby on Board”. Yeah, well that is great but what do you want me to do? Do you want me to choose somewhere else to have an accident? I have seen the same yellow sign on a t-shirt worn by a young lady who was obviously delighted about her first pregnancy. The pregnancy was obvious too. Maybe if her husband had a figure like mine he could wear a t-shirt that points out that there is no baby on board. It is just the shape he and I are in! Some have described a belly like mine as a Bhudda, beer or even a Santa belly but it does not need a sign. It is a self evident sign I am overweight and not fit.
One correspondent to the Newspaper suggested the sign was by an over protective parent and then gives a reply to the thought so he/she does not leave us wondering. I found what he wrote on the Internet:
• We are so proud of our offspring we expect you to be extra careful with your driving so as there is no risk of damaging our precious snuggley wuggley bumpkin.
o Get real! On a scale of one to ten, this option rates about 10 behind more important things. I have absolutely no intention of hitting your car for several reasons. I do not want to bend my own vehicle. I have places to go, people to see, things to do. I do not want to be held up wasting time swapping insurance details with anyone. I would rather run into the side of the road than hit another car. Do you think a sign will reduce that risk by having me choose another car that has no Baby on Board sign?
Then the writer of the above thoughts has now joined the Baby on Board sign displayers and writes:
Well that has all been in the past. Things have changed somewhat, I am now in the know! You see I too have joined the ranks of those propagating the species. I still walk around gob smacked at what my wife has managed to grow. I now know that the Baby on Board sign is used in much the same way as an old school or club necktie. A Baby on Board sign is there to say: Have sympathy on me for I know not what I do. Beware jelly brain at the wheel; liable to change lanes or stop for no apparent reason, without warning! The thing is that it is a sign directed only at those that really do understand; those that can fully empathize and give you the space that you need. After all it would be true to say that unless you actually have children of your own you can only imagine the half of it!
So maybe the sign has some use after all but I still wonder. I am yet to be convinced it conveys a message the world or anyone needs to know. I found someone this week who obviously agrees with me. He was displaying another version of that yellow diamond shape caution sign. It was more of an invitation than a caution. It said simply “Hit me! I need the money”.
I wonder about the thought that went into a sign that is reportedly on the wall above the tables in a Burger King Restaurant in the United States, printed in Braille:
"Non - Smoking". How would you find the sign in the first place? If a blind person should attempt to light a cigarette will another helpful customer or vigilant staff member will guide them over to the sign so that they can feel its message?
I wonder as a Christian what our signs display? The fish sign on the back of a car or on a sign on a business building or business card conveys a message. It says to those who know it the bearer is a Christian. It is an ancient Christian sign and has its origin back in the early Christian History. The word fish in Greek is spelt I-Ch-Th-U-S that is Ichthus. Each of the 5 letters is the initial of one of five words. I-Iesous; Ch-Christos; Th-Theou, which means God; U-(H)Uios, signifying son and S –Soter, the word for Saviour. So the fish is a statement: Jesus, Christ, Son of God, Saviour.
Initially I understand that it was a sign for those who know. It reminds me that for a message to be received it must be understood. I read of a woman who went into a jewellery shop to buy a cross on a chain necklace for her granddaughter. She was looking at various samples when suddenly the sales girls said to her “We have some crosses with a little man on them, if you would like to see them, too!” The woman was astounded that her Jesus was only known as a “little man” by the salesperson. The customer gladly shared the story of Jesus with her.
I remember the days I sat in Directory Class and in Junior Soldier Meetings and later in Corps Cadets where I learnt the meaning of the colours of our Yellow, Red and Blue Flag and the meaning of the various symbols that make up our beloved Salvation Army Crest. In recent years I wonder what these symbols say to those who have not had the privilege of attending such groups of instruction. The symbolism much loved by Salvationists is just fancy decoration to the untrained eye and mind of the person on the bus.
Our Salvation Army symbols, even some of our language and songs may cause a stranger to ask as the Ethiopian did of Philip "How can I (understand) without some help?" (Acts 8: 31 The Message).
Sometimes, I think we are tempted to abandon that which we Salvationists assume will not be immediately clear to non-Salvationists and young people. However, Philip did not tell the Ethiopian to throw the Old Testament in the desert sands but we read “Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him”. (Acts 8: 35 The Message).
We can teach and explain what we are about to the people but firstly, we must have the knowledge and the willing ness like Philip to be used by God.
[Listen: Regal Zonophone 78rpm: http://www.regalzonophone.com/audio/MF315%20-%20Vocal%20-%20Christ%20for%20the%20Whole%20Wide%20World.mp3 ]
Tell them in the east and in the west,
Tell them of the one you love the best.
Tell them how to find the sweetest rest
Leaning on the loving Saviour's breast.
Tell them all about the dear old book,
Tell them there is life just for a look;
Let this banner be unfurled:
Christ for the whole wide world.
Chorus
Tell them of the baby in the manger laid,
Sent from Heaven above;
Tell them how for them he was a ransom paid,
Just because of love.
Tell them with your lips and by your actions too,
And with flag unfurled,
Tell it out with a shout, tell it out with a shout:
Christ for the whole wide world.
To the beat of Army drums, make known
That the Saviour-King has sin o'erthrown;
Tell the rich and poor, the sad and lone,
Till his power to everyone is shown.
Tell it to the people you may meet,
Tell it in the hall and in the street;
Let this banner be unfurled:
Christ for the whole wide world.
Tell it to the young and to the old,
Tell them they may all be warriors bold,
Tell them of the shepherd and the fold,
Tell them of the heavenly harps of gold.
Tell it with a clarion voice so clear,
Let the story ring out far and near,
Let this banner be unfurled:
Christ for the whole wide world.
Author: Arthur Smith Arnott (1870-1941), alt
The Salvation Army Song Book: Song Number: 829
The Ethiopian Eunuch
26-28Later God's angel spoke to Philip: "At noon today I want you to walk over to that desolate road that goes from Jerusalem down to Gaza." He got up and went. He met an Ethiopian eunuch coming down the road. The eunuch had been on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem and was returning to Ethiopia, where he was minister in charge of all the finances of Candace, queen of the Ethiopians. He was riding in a chariot and reading the prophet Isaiah.
29-30The Spirit told Philip, "Climb into the chariot." Running up alongside, Philip heard the eunuch reading Isaiah and asked, "Do you understand what you're reading?"
31-33He answered, "How can I without some help?" and invited Philip into the chariot with him. The passage he was reading was this:
As a sheep led to slaughter,
and quiet as a lamb being sheared,
He was silent, saying nothing.
He was mocked and put down, never got a fair trial.
But who now can count his kin
since he's been taken from the earth?
34-35The eunuch said, "Tell me, who is the prophet talking about: himself or some other?" Philip grabbed his chance. Using this passage as his text, he preached Jesus to him.
36-39As they continued down the road, they came to a stream of water. The eunuch said, "Here's water. Why can't I be baptized?" He ordered the chariot to stop. They both went down to the water, and Philip baptized him on the spot. When they came up out of the water, the Spirit of God suddenly took Philip off, and that was the last the eunuch saw of him. But he didn't mind. He had what he'd come for and went on down the road as happy as he could be.
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