People Are Always Looking For A Sign

February 2nd has come and gone. There were many people gathered with an eye focused on one animal to give them a sign whether we would experience an early spring or extended winter.

Punxsutawney Phil came out of his house and did not see his shadow, so we will have an early spring. Phil also predicted the Steelers would go to the Super bowl.

As long as I can remember, I have heard about this animal informing the waiting masses about the season. I checked my calendar and noticed that spring will arrive in April. From years of gardening I can tell you if the calendar does not have spring in March, then expect cold whether until it shows up in April. Being in a southern state, I have always taken chances and planted certain plants before I was suppose to. Of course, I had to keep a watchful eye on the weather to be prepared to cover them up when an unexpected cold snap occurred. Today I purchased a slew of flower seeds to start indoors. I will have them in the ground by late March and pull frost duty until Easter Sunday.

Phil has had to share the spotlight with other animals in our human efforts to obtain a sign to give us some type of advantage in one thing or another or to make us feel better about our choices or the direction we are headed in.

Paul the Octopus hatched January 2008 and died October 26, 2010. His life began humbly Weymouth, England but ended in stardom. He lived his life in a tank at Sea Life Center in Oberhausen, Germany. He was known for correctly predicting the winner of each German national football team's seven matches in the 2010 FIFA World Cup as well as the outcome of the final. I remember seeing him on television and lauded as a wonder.

Amani, a 37 year old gorilla picked the Saints to win in the Super bowl faceoff between Indianapolis and New Orleans. Amani is a Gorilla at the Fort Worth Zoo. It was her first time selecting a Super bowl winner.

These predictions are not life altering. But it goes to show to the length we as humans will go to have a sign to make us feel better about our choices. As with everything else in life, the Bible has a famous man who needed a sign from God to ensure he was making the right choice.

Gideon was a famous judge of Israel who delivered the Israelites from oppression by defeating the mighty Midianite army with a force of only 300 warriors. Gideon came from an obscure family of the tribe of Manasseh, but he trusted God at every step of his military campaign. Well, this is only partially true.

Gideon was out threshing wheat in a winepress to keep it from the Midianites when the angel of the Lord appeared to him and said "The Lord is with you mighty warrior." The angel (LORD) told Gideon to go asd save Israel out of Midian's hand. Gideon quickly informed the angel (LORD) that he was from the weakest clan and that he was the least in his clan. Even though the Lord said he would be Gideon; Gideon needed more; give me a sign that it is really you talking to me. Before fully taking on his mission given to him by God he requested that a fleece he placed on the threshing floor be covered with dew in the morning while all of the area around it remains dry. When that came to pass just as Gideon asked he requested yet another sign; a dry fleece in the morning and the surrounding area dry. When this came to pass, Gideon was able to go forward with the Lord at his side (Judges 3-8). Gideon is listed as one of the heroes of faith in Hebrews 11:32

It seems man will always need some sort of sign and we look in any and every direction to find one. We ask for a sign for the serious matters of the heart and the not so serious matters of everyday living. My life would have less anxiety if I could be given a sign to tell me what are the best choices to make as a wife or as a writer. But, life is not that simple and you may end up asking for a sign to make sure you are supposed to follow the sign.

With every choice we make there will always be timidity. The only way to take the edge off of not being sure is to follow the mandates of Jesus. Some of his teachings may be hard to follow at times, but in the long wrong; they usually make the outcomes of the future a little easier to live with.