Life in the Palmetto State: The sand may just be our problem

I sometimes write in the abstract, and this is certainly one of those times.

While the title of this article may seem a bit half baked, hopefully by its end, you will see the premise come into view.

Down through time, many inferences have been made about sand and how it affects our lives.

In Jesus' parable about the two builders, where he was adamantly clear about the folly of building your house upon the sand, He illustrates what would happen when the "storms of life" came upon this house and its foundation. It would crumble under the duress exacted on it by these intense storms. We could certainly compare it to life, our life. In fact, it was clear through His teachings what would happen when the wise man built his house upon the rock and what would happen when the foolish man built his house upon the sand.

The rock could withstand all that was thrown at it. The sand would wash away almost immediately, leaving you with nothing.

Another aspect: Look at the sandbars in a river or at the beach. They are forever changing because they are devoid of structural integrity. They are at the mercy of the fickle winds and tide, so therefore, we can never count on their stability and structure.

In 1969, a popular country music artist, Roy Clark, resurrected a song that was written many years before he released it. It was a massive crossover hit for him that spanned the country and adult contemporary music genres.

The song was "Yesterday, when I was young," and there is a thought in that song that says "the thousand dreams I dreamed, the splendid things I planned, I always built to last on weak and shifting sand."

The song throughout its lyrics laments his youthful decisions and that his dependency on his weak and sandy foundation crumbled under the weight of life. In fact, the last line of the song says "The time has come for me to pay for yesterday, when I was young."

Now, granted, the overall dynamic of the song is based on the folly of youth, but a strong undertone is that of building something substantial on such a fragile and untrustworthy underfooting.

There is also quicksand, and we know how dangerous that is.

Last but not least, the old saying about the ostrich sticking its head in the sand to avoid danger is another inference of sand and its negative connotation. Now, I don't know how true that saying is because I don't know much about ostriches, but it certainly makes for a poignant point.

I know what you are saying by now: Lee, can you get to the point and get me off this buggy ride?

Well, here's my point.

Are we basing our lives and futures on a foundation that will disintegrate at its first exposure to bad weather, our stormy life?

Do we still stand for integrity and grit, or do we vacillate with the four winds? If faced with a challenge of whether to do right or what feels good, which do we choose? Are we trying to teach resiliency and self-reliance to our youth, or are we letting the many distractions raise them, ie, radio, tablets, computers and cellphones?

The other evening, I watched a young child play on a tablet at the table at a restaurant with no interaction with his family. I won't soon forget the blank stare that young man had on his face as he looked up from the screen.

Back in the late '60s and early '70s, there was a renowned pediatrician named Dr. Spock who tried for years to change the parenting dynamic in child rearing, and it failed miserably.

He was blamed for the "bratty children" generation and started the downward spiral of respect and integrity we see today. Of course they grew up and had children, further promoting this behavior.

Then internet came on scene and now AI. Where will it stop?

To wrap this up, please don't think I think technology is bad, nor do I think that all parents are bad, because I don't, but here are my concerns.

We are traveling down a road that will soon have no turnarounds. Culture is like a wire fence nailed to a tree. For a long time you can still pull the staple out and remove the fence, but after a while, especially if you don't keep a check on it, the tree grows around it, and the only way to remove the fence is to heavily notch a portion out or cut the whole tree down. All of those approaches are drastic.

Are we at that point culturally? Are we dangerously close to having to cut the proverbial tree down?

Are we so far from living a natural life that we have to have our phones and computers to get us through?

Are we so far removed from the earth's heartbeat that we can't feel the blood coursing through its veins?

Here are some truths I leave with you:

God has been removed from everything that matters, and that will, if not already, become a problem because He is the cornerstone upon which all life is anchored to.

God never promised that you wouldn't have storms in your life. But He did promise that He would be right there with you, beside you to help you through it. The Bible says in Hebrews 13:5 that "I will never leave you or forsake you." But He does tell you not to build your house upon the sand, for the outcome could be catastrophic. Sound advice from our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

Just because the internet says it and Madison Avenue sells it doesn't mean it's true or that we have to have it.

In the natural world, when a tree grows up "protected" from the elements, it grows so beautifully, a perfect specimen.

However, when the protection is gone, trees cut from around it, it withers and dies from its lack of protection and will probably fall over because it didn't put its roots down deep, especially in the sand. It has become vulnerable from the very thing that protected it.

Have you put your roots down deep in the earth, the sand? Have you built your future on weak and shifting sand?

Do you have your head in the sand?

Folks, it's time for us to realize that we are on this road of no turning back, but this cloud of gloom and despair hanging over us can be overcome. All we have to do is call upon the Lord, and with faith, all things are possible.

Let's right this ship before we become shipwrecked and all hope is gone.

God is the answer; He loves us and is willing to help.

He can illuminate the dark places in our lives and will show us how to enjoy the existence he has planned for us.

It's time for us to wake up and recognize the fact that our world today of all that is evil is good and all that is good is evil will not bode well for us in the future, for we are basing more of our lives on that unstable sand.

Never forget, God loves you no matter what!

So take heed, folks, build your plans upon the rock and stay away from that unforgiving sand.

May God bless you!

Lee Reaves Jr. is president of Clarendon County Historical Society.