LEFT HAND THREADS

The handle on our toilet came off the other morning. I lifted up the lid to find the nut holding it on had come off. I screwed it back on. As I did I noticed it had a left-handed thread. They do this so that the handle won't unscrew itself every time someone flushes.

I remember my brother, David, teaching me about left-handed threads as I was watching him work on his bicycle. Bicycles use left-handed threads for the same reason toilet handles do, so the peddles won't unscrew themselves as you peddle down the road. The right-hand crank has left-handed threads on its bearing holder and peddle.

How many things we must pick up along life's path: left-handed threads, keep to the right, pass on the left (unless you are in England or a colony). We learn them, and use them, and probably pass them along to others without even realizing.

(I don't know how that handle came unscrewed when the normal effect of using the lever should be to tighten it. Is it a conspiracy? Does someone have a key and is sneaking into our house when we are away and unscrewing the toilet handle? Do they break in through the attic? Is there a Worm-Hole or Time Warp through which the aliens are moving? Is it the Evil Spirit of the Toilet Tank?)

PASS IT ALONG

We read that Moses, " took the book of the covenant, and READ IT IN THE AUDIENCE OF THE PEOPLE: and they said, All that the LORD hath said will we do, and be obedient ". (Exodus 24:7)

Once he had read the covenant it was entirely up to the choice of the people whether they would actually obey it. We know from history that they generally did not.

When it comes to our children it's the same way. Whether we read the Bible or teach any moral (or practical) lesson, they have the choice whether to obey. Other than enforcing appropriate speech and activity within our own walls (for as long as that lasts), the only act we can perform is pass the instruction along: reading the Bible, teaching, living as examples and so on.

Lizzie and I have read and taught and lived as examples to our children. And by their choice they have lived productive, loving and godly lives. I expect they (and we) will continue; because living good is so much easier and rewarding than living bad.

There is something else to draw out too. Rather than looking forward to what our children might do, let us also look back to see what we have done. Have we lived our lives well? Have we generally done what our parents would have wanted? (And I thank God here that we had good parents.) Have we earnestly striven to do and think what God wants? Can we improve?

Moses could look back at his own efforts with God and say, "I have done the best I knew to do." We, all of us, should want to be able to say that. .