These are the times that try men’s souls. Who said that? It was Thomas Paine! He was a smart man, wasn’t he?  

This was certainly true of those revolutionary days – but I believe it is also very true today. Our souls are being tried, as this nation, which had a foundation on a belief in God and objective truth, is running madly away from God and His truth. And now, we are seeing chaos and violence hit the streets. 

I just stumbled onto Psalm 11, and I guess I have read Psalm 11 before, but it never spoke to me like it did this time. Let me quote a bit to you. This is the Living Translation: “I trust in the Lord for protection. So why do you say to me, ‘Fly to the mountains for safety?’ The wicked are stringing their bows and fitting their arrows on the bowstrings. They shoot from the shadows at those whose hearts are right. The foundations of law and order have collapsed. What can the righteous do? But the Lord is in His holy Temple. The Lord still rules from heaven. He watches everyone closely examining every person on earth. The Lord examines both the righteous and the wicked. He hates those who love violence, He will rain down blazing coals and burning sulfur on the wicked, punishing them with scorching winds ... For the righteous Lord loves justice. The virtuous will see his face.”  

If reading this does not give you more peace, then speak it out loud. Say it a few times. It will bring you peace. Why? Because it’s the truth. 

Now for a happier note: This week is the Fourth of July and we all have a chance to celebrate. What are you going to do for fun? It’s time to cook out, enjoy some fireworks, and watch a good movie on television, maybe? Whatever you do, may you find rest and peace.  

Our women’s coffee group met last week. We sat apart in a respectful distance, used our wipes, and sipped our mint juleps ... oops. No mint juleps. We sipped coffee. There. That’s the truth. 

One of the gals, Tilly Blutz, wears caps or hats almost regularly. She has a different one for different clothes colors. Tilly and her husband have been married for 60 years! Wow. They go for a bike ride every morning. They live in the country and they cycle around a section I guess. Tilly was cruising along on her Schwinn, and a fly bit her leg. She reached down to swat it, and about that time, she hit some blow sand. She began to wobble, and lost her balance, tumbling off the bike into the ditch. Her hat flew off. 

Husband, Louie, looked back, observed the fall, and saw the hat in the ditch. Did he say, “Are you all right, Tilly?” No he didn’t. He said, “I thought that was your head lying there in the ditch until I saw the rest of you a few yards away.”  Tilly was fine. So was the hat. I don’t know how things turned out for the husband. See you all next week. Happy 4th!  

Judi Tabler lives in Pawnee County and is a guest columnist for the Great Bend Tribune. She can be reached at juditabler@gmail.com or juditabler@awomansview.