Endians with an E, rather than a misspelling, serves as the back half of two words crafted by Jonathan Swift in his masterful work Gulliver's Travels. Along his journey, Gulliver lives for a time among the Lilliputians in the city of Mildendo. There the locals divide themselves for various reasons - one being the "correct" method of cracking an egg. The Big-Endians prefer to crack eggs on the larger end while the Little-Endians opt for the other end. Each group of Endians vehemently holds to their method as the best and, therefore, the only correct way to make one's way toward any meal that includes an egg.
Swift crafted a story based upon experience. In the England of his day, he saw discord and disagreement rooted in some non-essential issues of life.
England (as well as the rest of the world) continues to debate Endian issues two hundred and ninety-one years later.
In our homes, family members engage in Endian debates over . . .
- over or under toilet paper (obviously - over!)
- where to squeeze the toothpaste
- the correct way to make a sandwich
Those debates and others exponentially increase in number as Endians gather in PTA meetings, Church gatherings, Community councils, Board meetings, Political parties, and the like.
No stranger to controversy, the Apostle Paul learned to pick his battles and, in turn, encouraged others to learn the same. He wrote . . .
So let’s agree to use all our energy in getting along with each other.
Romans 14:19 (The Message)
I try to remember those words when, as an Endian on one side of the egg talk, I am engaged in conversation with an Endian on the other side. Whether you are a Big-Indian, a Little-Endian, or even a Middle-Endian, you can learn how to better appreciate the ways of others. Who knows? You might even learn to crack the other end of an egg.
Now let's get cracking.
Peanuts' Lucy promises, "For a nickel, I can cure anything." Even a brief look into her practice would reveal more than enough evidence for charges of malpractice.
Just ask good ol' Charlie Brown. Her advice is about as reliable as her football-holding. Yet, Charlie returns to the kicking position and advice booth over and over and over.
Who knew that two-dimensional character could frustrate me so much?
The folly of Brown reminds me of the fool of Proverbs.
As a dog returns to its vomit,
so fools repeat their folly.
Proverbs 26:11 (NIV)
While the author "draws" a revolting image, the image proves effective. I picture the dopey dog circling back to the very location of his projectile puking - eager to return the contents to their original place. Then, just as the Wisdom Literature intends, I picture my own "circling backs." While the desire to eat my own vomit has never drawn me in, I have returned, in the words of the New Testament's Paul, "to do what I do not want to do."
While, let's face it, Lucy is a jerk, Charlie could choose to save his nickels and find a different placekick holder.
To what do you continue to return? Where are you foolishly spending nickels? Who's hindering you from actually making contact with that ball? Charlie has a choice. So do we.
Here's to well-spent nickels! (Hint: Don't give them to Lucy.)
