Wayne's World Revisited

I have enjoyed the on-line conversations about Wayne's position, stance, and what happens next. I sincerely appreciate those who found my blog via internet search on this particular story and took time to comment. Your comments are always welcome, whether we agree or not and regardless of the number of words needed to express yourself. Really. Glad to hear from you. Originally, I heard of this story from Rick and Bubba. Just as I arrived at work they were beginning to explore a story someone had e-mailed to them about a guy sitting on a tower. They were very interested and Bubba astutely noted that the tower in the photo looked like a ham radio tower, which has been an issue with him and past Home Owners Associations. Unfortunately, I had to go into work before the story developed fully. When I got home I checked the Advertisers website and read the story. It looked to me like Wayne (based on the article information) was on shaky legal ground and choosing a wacky way to get his story out. Well, the method worked--at least to a point. The story did spread quickly and became fodder for water fountain conversations (sorry those of you who carry bottled water missed out).

Here are a few thoughts as I have reflected on these events in the last few days. While I do not personally know Wayne, I feel safe in saying we have both similarities and differences. I admire his dogged determination to make his point regardless of what others may think and say. I am amazed at his temerity demonstrated by staying put through two tremendous storms. I am impressed that his family has rallied to support him with physical presence at the tower and by posting information on-line. Based on the information I have (which I say again, is limited--there is much I don't know), Wayne's cause seems based on a questionable foundation. Here is where the story interfaces with the book I am currently reading (Prayer, Does it Really Make a Difference? by Phillip Yancey) and the thoughts spurred by that book. Yancey refers to incidents of Abraham, David, Moses, Job, and even Jesus praying in a way that seems like negotiating with God. There are lots of examples but the one that stands out in my mind now is Abraham asking God to spare Soddom and Gomorrah. He starts with a high number of righteous for whom God would spare the cities, then when God agrees he pushes the envelope and offers a smaller number until he gets down to 10. For 10 righeous souls the cities will be spared--agreed. We now know of course what God knew then, that there not 10 righteous folks in all of the two cities. What stands out is Abraham kept asking for more and God kept agreeing. In fact Abraham never reached a number where God said "No, you are asking too much". What if Abraham had asked God to spare the cities for 2 righteous souls? We can speculate but never know because he did not ask. What strikes me is how often I fail to ask. Not just of God but also of others. The idea of meekly and humbly accepting life as it comes to you is a strong "life commandment" from my upbringing that asking for a lot seems........wrong. Yet, God wants to give. Friends and family want to give, up to a point. So, somewhere past the mid-point of my life I still have to weigh whether to risk being the pesky person who always wants his way against waiting to be asked for my opinion or preference while watching the acceptance of an inferior choice because someone had the "temerity" to ask. And ask again. I am still thinking about it. But win, loose, or draw I respect Wayne's toughness.