Urgency

This story would have taken place in the early 1960s, when I was first getting a good grasp on reading simple words. I figure it was second grade—give or take a year. Wanting to improve her students’ reading skills, our teacher gave us an assignment.

“Pick out a favorite book at home,” she instructed, “to read to the rest of the class. Bring your book to class on Monday to share with us.”

My excessively timid personality hated the sound of that wretched assignment. I could think of nothing worse than standing in front of the entire class and reading. I quickly dismissed the ugly thought from my mind, opting instead to think of pleasant weekend adventures.

I successfully blocked it out until Sunday night, near bedtime. Then the assignment came rushing back to me.

“Oh no!” My gut fell to my knees.

“Mom,” I wailed, “I forgot. I have to pick out my favorite book to read to the class tomorrow.” By now, tears were streaming down my cheeks. “I haven’t practiced, and this is in front of the whole class. I can’t do this.”

A sense of urgency to solve this problem—and to be done with it forever—settled on me like fleas on a mangy dog.

Thank goodness moms seem to have an intuitive instinct that can guide their children to a better perspective in difficult times. As Mom wiped my tears with a crumpled tissue she pulled from her pocket, she asked what my favorite book was.

The Little Red Hen, I replied with no hesitation and a few fewer sobs. The loose pages, bent corners, and scratched cover of the small Golden Book attested to the fact that I had read it so many times I could recite it from memory.

That’s it! If I got too nervous to read it, I could just recite it and try to remember to turn the pages as I went.

I’ve had episodes of urgency since that time, but none have been as pronounced as this one. Yet there is a far greater reason for urgency in our world today than the one caused by a Little Golden Book so many years ago. Many biblical scholars are acknowledging that the signs may suggest we are in our last days.

A sense of urgency should grip our hearts for our unbelieving loved ones. It is a time to fervently pray that their hearts would be ready to hear the Good News—and to respond to it.

Until next time—keep on readin’, and I’ll keep on writin’.