Pure fun...or not.

I had fond memories of the Rodeo. One time when we were kids my dad took me in my brother when were were out west. The memory I had of the show was pure, wholesome, and fun.

So when the rodeo came to town I thought it would be a good idea to take my dad and my son to the show for Papaw's B-day. I got tickets early to save some money, but when the day arrived Papaw fell ill and had to back out. I almost wanted to back out, but I was still "socially" obligated to my brother, my friend and their sons.

As we were sharing a meal with our friends before the show we got to talking about a recent house I had been in. The owner was so eager to show off the half a million dollar house, our hearts were hurt to think about the multitudes of children that would die of starvation as the tour commenced.

As we talked about others and their extravaganzas that still small voice pointed the finger back on me. We should sell our tickets and give the money to the poor! I quickly hushed that for the sake of a social obligation to my brother. I'm sure my friend would have been game for it. We would have had a better time just talking anyway.

As soon as I stepped into the arena I knew I had made a mistake. Worldliness dominated. My brother sat behind us, so that wasn't conducive to talking. The loud show wasn't either. What was I hanging on to? Secular music, raunchy jokes, even swearing. It was like a nice movie memory. It's something you haven't seen in years, but you remember it as good. When you go to watch it now, you can't believe the filth. It's the matter of growing closer and closer to our Holy Father. You just can't be entertained by sin.

It just isn't funny anymore. Social obligations or not, I hope to listen to that still small voice next time.