I discovered something new this morning. All these years of living in Lebanon, I have regarded the distance between the Shell station on Highway 4/50 and the St. Paul UCC Office, Sanctuary, and Fellowship Home as about 2 ½ to 3 blocks. This morning it occurred to me that I have long been utilizing the incorrect standard of measure as it regards that particular distance. In fact, the Shell station is exactly 25 ounces away from St. Paul UCC. That’s right, I said 25 ounces. I was really upset with myself when I realized my mistake. All these years I have been measuring linear distance to the Shell station when, truth be told, there are many, many in this world who measure the distance in liquid increments. This morning I stumbled, literally, upon their form of measurement: a 25 oz. beer can laying in the street. It was then that it dawned on me: St. Paul is just 25 ounces of liquid enjoyment from the Shell station. I had never thought of it that way! Apparently someone had made the purchase of a 25 oz. can of beer at the Shell station and, in the time it took them to walk from the Shell station to the St. Paul facilities, they consumed the contents and simply dropped the can on the street to mark the exact distance from one place to the other. Perhaps they couldnt carry it any further due to their unstable condition, but I doubt it, that would have made them lightweight mathematicians and drinkers. No, I suspect they dropped it so they wouldnt have to carry an empty as they continued on to the next 25 oz. can in their possession which, according to my calculations would probably have lasted them to somewhere a bit beyond the Post Office, if they continued on the route they seemed to be taking. Clever, simply clever those people are. Not only are they marking the distance from the Shell station to the St. Paul facility, they are leaving a trail so they can easily find their way back to mecca for the next measurement supply. Fascinating, really. (Someone also regularly leaves similar measurement devices in the side lawn of our home but, until now, I hadnt understood the reason.) I take my hat off to these fine upstanding citizens of Lebanon! Not unlike the famed Lewis and Clark expeditions, these folk cover the miles on foot, having to carry all their provisions, stake out the territories where supplies can be acquired, note the routes which they took and press on towards their goal, praying all the while to make it safely to where they are going and then back to the Outpost again. Incredible! Yet, the most stunning part of this are the measurement tools they use. Who would have ever thought to measure distance in ounces? Of course, this could become problematic if someone consumes the beverage faster than the person they send back to follow their steps. Shoot, using the liquid measurement system, a person could be off by gallons at a time, depending on whether the trailblazer was a lush or a teetotaler! That would make it really tough on those who followed the instructions a person gave, depending on their capacity and/or desire to consume drinks while trailblazing. Maybe that only further underscores the necessity of leaving a trail: Following the empties back eliminates the need for exact liquid measurement. Just follow the trail already cast in light aluminum! (Even as I sit at my desk sharing this discovery with you, I am shaking my head in awe. Such foresight and planning!) Which makes me think I may have also committed a grave error: I picked up the empty cans. The mark of the trail has been erased. The telltale signs have been recycled. The distance has been compromised by an innocent bystander. How will they ever find their way back to the outpost of the Shell station? What happens if their walk back is by 12 ounce standards? Or 48 ounce standards? Or (Shudder!), gallon standards? Heavens! They could end up a quarter mile short or two miles beyond that for which they are traveling! Granted, it is one of the occupational hazards of trailblazers: Sometimes someone inadvertently changes the signs you are counting on or even moves them completely . . . but then, trailblazing isnt for everyone. Surely, they will be resourceful enough to find their way back. We can only hope and pray . . . and, please God, forgive me for ruining their trail. I meant no harm. Still, in the meantime, we now have scientific evidence that there are new ways to measure the paths we trod, to account for the steps we take, to record the topography of the land through which we journey. Thank you, kind and wise folk, whomever you are, for opening my eyes and allowing me to spread the word: St. Paul UCC is only 25 ounces from the Shell station! I wonder how many will find their way here now? Hmmm. Only time . . . and a six-pack or two of such cans . . . will tell. Blessings to you all, between here and wherever it is you are! However you measure it, you are never beyond the embrace of God. Never. Thanks be to God!
Posted on: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 23:49:54 +0000
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