Today, Denise and I ventured forth into the ‘Eighth Level Of Ignorance’, otherwise known as ‘Tax Free Weekend In Arkansas!’  As families approach the winding down of summer and the back-to-school pains, states across the Mid South rotate weekends to offer families a chance to purchase back-to-school needs TAX FREE!  Last weekend, it was the states of Mississippi and Tennessee.  This weekend, it’s here in Arkansas.

To be completely honest, this is a wonderful opportunity for families to save a little bit of money, as we transition from the fun and frolicking of the summer, to the doldrums of the fall routines, and the sometimes horrors of getting our kids back in school.

But really, who doesn’t want to save a couple of bucks?

Our journey today wasn’t for massive amounts of school supplies.  Instead, we had a few needs that we had to pick up, and a gift or two for friends.

But secretly, I wanted out in the madness just to watch the people!  If you know me well enough, you know that I have a tradition of being out FOR HOURS during Black Friday Weekend, and, on Christmas Eve…the majority of time is spend ‘people-watching.’  Today proved to be just as entertaining.

Conditions like this also provide opportunities to have Gospel conversations!  Think about it, you basically have a captive audience.  And I continue to be surprised at how receptive people are to the Gospel in these types of situations.  Today, proved no different in the conversations that I had!

But as I watched the myriads of people…old, young…rich, poor…black, white…men, women…do their best to get everything on their children’s school list, I was deeply reminded of the vast lostness that surrounded me.  I was encircled by hundreds of people more concerned about pencils and paper than they are the eternal destiny of their souls.

There is a very dark cloud over the Delta.  A cloud of oppression that has been growing stronger throughout the years.  But I’m convinced that rays of the Son are beginning to break through.

Slowly but surely, lives are changing and families are coming together for the sake of the Gospel.  But as life-change happens, we must remember that ‘working in the fields’ is hard work.  In fact, it’s down right messy.

If we’re serious about the spread of the Gospel, trust me, we’re going to get messy!  Even more messier that all of the back-to-school aisles in Walmart on Tax Free Weekend.

But each life is worth it!

“…the harvest is plentiful…”