Here’s a fairly old story that keeps coming in via e-mail. A builder was putting up a spec house. A prospective buyer came by to look at the house. The lady who was showing the house frequently went to the front window and hollered, “Hey, keep the green side up?” After awhile, the gentleman couldn’t keep his curiosity in check any longer. He asked the woman, “Why do you keep shouting out the window, ‘Keep the green side up.’” She answered, “Some folks are laying sod. I have to keep reminding them to keep the green side up.”

Men have a reputation (perhaps well-deserved) for an unwillingness to read the instructions before trying to assemble an outdoor gym set or playpen. Wives like to point out how reticent most men are to look at maps or stop and ask for directions.

Well, I have a new wrinkle on this old theme. My favorite shoes are a pair of mocassins. They have hard soles and have always been very comfortable. On a recent trip to visit our daughter, Kathleen, and her husband, William, we went to Binky Town, so I could look for a pair of insoles for my shoes. The stiff soles had finally begun to make the bottom of my feet sore.

As we looked through several different “models” of inserts, we found a pair that fit just right. After we cleared the checkout counter, I opened them up and slipped them into my mocs. My wife, Pat, was looking at the bubble pack and started reading the directions aloud. I teased her a bit that I certainly didn’t need to read the directions for putting the inserts in my shoes. She just kept reading, “Be sure and put the blue gel side DOWN!”

I took my shoes off and looked inside. Sure enough, I’d put them in with the blue gel side UP! Made a lot of sense AFTER she read that line to me.

How often in life all of us “fail to read the directions FIRST”. We cause ourselves a lot of extra work and often bring unneeded exasperation into our lives.

Happily, there ARE directions available for our lives. I believe the Bible’s basic teachings are simple. Even a child doesn’t need to misunderstand or make a mistake.

If you haven’t been willing to seek God and read His directions, are you ready to begin today? If you’re a fairly new believer, you can profit greatly by reading the Book of further instructions. If you’re trying to disciple a friend, study the greatest Book of instructions ever written.

If this piece challenges you to learn more, or if you want to share your own experience about when you finally began to “read the instructions”, use the “Leave a Reply” box below!  I’ll get back to you!

And now, some feedback from you, my readers, on my last article.

– WOW! That sure is a BIG doghouse. Wasn’t that doghouse bigger than the trailer you described? Good lessons embedded in your story.

– The article brought back memories for me as, I’m sure, it will for many. One application that hit close to home for us, because we are discussing the subject in practically ways, is the supposed difference between “secular” and “spiritual.” I maintain there is no separation, but our family is searching out ways to actually put our contention into practice. Actually, it has been a real reminder of God’s presence no matter what we’re doing. I’m still grateful for memories and dogs. You hit them both! Thanks!

– I enjoyed your article about the dogs and the dog house. Reading about the dog keeping your child on the blanket reminded me about how the Holy Spirit will help us in our spiritual walk! So many times He would keep us on the right path if we would just let Him!!

I visited your website as you mentioned in the e-mail the other day. It’s a very nice website. I liked being able to listen to some clippings of your recordings and reading about your memories of your mother playing the piano.

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