HOGANSVILLE HERALD - THURSDAY, SEPT. 22, 2011 PAGE 3-A
• C0hmist
In his book, Mastering the Seven Decisions that Determine
Success, author Andy Andrews quotes Anne Frank, who said,
"Our lives are fashioned by choice. First we make choices. Then
our choices make us."
He also tells a story about some Aboriginal Rainmakers in
Australia. It seems as though every time communities got into
trouble because of drought, they would call the Aboriginals to
come and perform their rain dance. Some tribes were more suc-
cessful than others. And one particular tribe always made it rain.
When asked why it rained every single time his tribe danced, the
king replied, "It's very simply, actually. We dance ~11 it rains."
Wow! How powerful. Stop for a moment and let those two
thoughts sink in:
1. We make choices in life. In turn, our choices, good or
bad, make us.
2, Once we choose and commit to anything in life we need
to stick with it until the very end. We need to learn to "dance
'till it rams!'"
Two things are in short supply in America today:
L Good decision making skills
2. Commitment - or as I like to say, "Stickability!"
Ithink one thing that tends to hinder our good decision-mak-
ing skills as Americans and as Christians is the need that our soci-
ety has programmed into us for "immediate gratification." A
good example of this is when we cut an apple in half. We usually
do so with the sole intent of satisfying our taste for an apple. We
give little or no thought as to where the apple came from or if
there will be another apple tomorrow to replace the one we ate
today. Seldom do we pay attention to the seeds inside the apple.
And if we even see the seeds, we only see them as a nuisance to
be thrown into the garbage. We do not see the potential orchard
inside the apple. We justwant what we want right now!
IT HAS ALWAYS amazed me that a single tiny little acorn
contains the whole DNA code for a fully mature giant oak tree
with the potential to produce enough acorns in its lifetime to grow
an entire forest of oak trees. It's all right there inside the tiny
acorn. It just needs the proper circumstances and time to devel-
op.
The decisions we make in life are not too dissimilar. All deci-
sions have the potential to affect us (and others) far past the imme-
diate gratification of today. They just need the proper circum-
stances and the time to develop. Remember, great things don't
develop in a day - they develop daily!
Another thing that hinders us as Americans and as Christians
is blur lack of commitment - to anything! Marriage is a good
example of what I am talking about. I have often said (sarcasti-
cally) that preachers should change the vows in the wedding cer-
emony. Although the couple may repeat the preacher's words,
what they really mean is, "I promise to love, honor, and cherish
until ..." my new husband or wife makes me really mad and then
I'm outta here. I don't have to put up with their junk! Excuse
me. I thought it was, "... until death do us part!" Silly me. Silly
me.
We have made quitting too easy. Yes, we quit our marriages.
We quit our jobs. We quit our churches. We quit our friendships.
We quit our finances. We quit the gym. (Oops] Quit preaching
and went to meddling there, didn't I?) When things don't happen
the way we think they should, or exactly when we think they
should, we quit. We take our ball and bat and go home. Whatever
happened to darlcing 'till it rains?
.~ Have you ever, heard-of-ThoJ~utterfly Effegt?..Ac~rding to
Wikipedia~ "In chaos theol;y,~the,but~erfly effect is the sensitive
dependence on initial conditibils~ Where a small change at one
place in a nonlinear system can result in large differences to a
later state. For example, the presence or absence of a butterfly
flapping its wings could lead to creation or absence of a hurri-
cane)'
In laymen's terms, the simple act of a butterfly flapping its
wings on one side of the earth can set enough molecules in motion
to start a hurricane o~ the other side of the earth. However, just
as.importantly, the absence of a butterfly flapping its wings on
one side of the earth can prevent a hurricane from forming on
the other side of the earth. In other words, what we do or stop
doing has a direct effecton things and people around us. Period.
I wonder how many churches today are dying because,
spiritually and metaphorically speaking, one or more of the faith-
ful members stopped flapping their wings? I wonder how many
marrmges end in divorce because one or both or the partners
stop flapping their wings? I wonder how many dreams have been
forfeited because people stopped flapping their wings. (And on
& on I could go!)
, I heard a story once about some people who were trying to
strike it rich in the oil business. They mortgaged all they bad to
purchase land and oil drilling equipment. They drilled for days
and failed to strike oil. Finally, they threw in the towel and sold
their equipment and land. The company that bought their equip-
ment and land took over the drilling site, restarted the drilling
rig, drilled six feet and hit off. Sadly, the original owners had fold-
ed their wings too soon.
:There are just two thoughts in this column today and I hope
you Will ponder them:
1. In life, we make our decisions - then our decisions make
us. 2. When you commit to do something, see it through unto
the end - keep flapping your wings - and dance Till it rains!
• Aaron McCollough is an area missionarywith the area Baptist
Association wlu'ch serves Harris, Metiwether and ~oup counties.
:He is a resident of Hogans~lle.
: www.freshfuvminist 'es.com or fms dspringcom
Braswell Chaffin
Oct. 29, 1921 - Sept. 13, 2011
WWlI Purple Heart Recipient
Braswell Chaffin, 89, of GrantviUe, died Tuesday, Sept.r
13, at his home.
The funeral service was conducted Thursday, Sept. 15,
at the graveside in the Grantvilte Cemetery, with the
Reverend Randall Hodge officiating.
Mr. Chaffin was born Oct. 29, 1921, in Grantville, son
of the late Graydon and Claire Braswell Chaffin. A life-
long resident of GrantviUe, he received a Purple Heart for
his service in the U. S. Army during World War 1V¢o, was
a member of First United Methodist Church of GrantviUe,
and retired from James River Corporation after 20 years
of service.
Survivors include his son and daughter in-law, Jerome°
and Jan Chaff in of Newnan; three grandchildren, Vickie
and Michael Burgess of Tooele, Utah, Jeff and Shelley
Chaff in of Newnan, Chris and Betty Chaffin, also of Newnan;
and thirteen great-grandchildren.
Condolences may be expressed at www.mckibbenfu-
neralhome.com
Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home was in
charge of arrangements.
Laura Jane Covin
June 11, 1952 - Aug. 20, 2011
Respiratory Therapist
Laura Jane Covin, 59, of Hogansville died Saturday,
Aug. 20, at her home.
A gathering to celebrate the life of Laura will be held
from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m., Sunday, Sept. 25, at No Rush, at
212 East Main St. in Hogansville.
Born June 11, 1952 in Newnan, Ms. Covin was the daugh-
ter of Ruth Hutchinson Covin and the late James Elmer
(Fox) Covin. She was a 1970 graduate of Hogansville High
School, and attended Georgia Southern University and
LaGrange College. She was employed as a respiratory
therapist for many years and then served as office man-
ager for a commercial printing company. She lived most
of her life in Atlanta before returning to Hogansville sev-
eral years ago, and was a member of First United Methodist
Church of Hogansville.
She is survived by her mother, Ruth Covin of
Hogansville; sister and brother in-law, Mary Fox and Mike
Fowler of Anderson, SC; brother and sister in-law, David
and Carol Covin of Manassas, VA; four nephews; two great-
nephews; and a great-niece.
In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made
to Abandoned Pet Rescue, E O. Box 833, Hogansville, GA
30230
Condolences may be expressed at www.mckibbenfu-
neralhome.com
Claude A. McKibben and Sons Funeral Home,
Hogansville was in charge of arrangements.
Photo By James Woods
GOING ONCE, GOING TWICE, SOLD! - The city of
Hogansville sold a number of vehicle during an auction held
Saturday, Sept. 10. Some of the vehicles were seized
by the police department while others were older city
vehicles.
Car Auction Held In Hogansville
The City of Hogansville various makes and models.
was briefly in the used car Some of the vehicles were
business last weekend, seized by the Hogansville
The city had 17 vehiclesPolice Department while
available for sale during an others were retired from the
auction held on Saturday, city's fleet.
Sept. 10, in front of the pub- The auction began at 8
lic works building located on a.m. and concluded about 10
Lincoln Street. a.m., and drew quite a num-
City manager James ber of potential buyers.
Woodssaidthegroupofvehi- Most of the vehicles
cles included two vans, five were sold though at least one
pickup trucks, a Cadillac, was not as the reserve on it
one SUV and tither cars of was not met.
Correspondents Sought
The Hogansville Herald is seeking correspondents to
write the happenings of the cities and communitiesin and
around. Hogansville.
• For more information, please call John Kuykendall
at (706) 846-3188 or email - news@star-mercury.com.
HOMECOMING AT HIGHLAND - Highland Baptist
Church held their annual Homecoming on Sunday, 9/11
with Higher Hope (pictured above) of LaGrange provid-
ing the beautiful Southern Gospel music. Pastor Don
Ellison, who served as Interim Pastor at Highland earli-
er this year, delivered the message. Following the serv-
ice, everyone enjoyed a church-wide lunch and great
fellowship.
Photo By Andy Kober
STOP BY AND SAY HI - Hogansville Coffee Company
and Blue Train Books is now open next to William and
Mary'sAntiques on Main Street in Hogansville and Megan
Monell is welcoming visitors to the new store. In addi-
tion to books and coffees, the new store has cold drinks
and various snacks along with coffee cu ps, commemo-
rative t-shirts and ball caps.
Your Help Needed During Festival
The Hogansville
Hummingbird Festival is
scheduled for Oct. 18-19, and
your help is needed to help
make it another success.
"The festival cannot take
place without the time and
effort of a great many indi-
viduals," notes Mary
Stewart.
Funds raised by the
Hummingbird Festival have
resulted in over $2 million
in improvement to the city.
The festival has also bene-
fited such charitable organ-
izations as the Ame Red
Cross, Shriners Hospital, the
Hogansville food bankl and
supporting breast cancer
research and those suffering
from breast cancer. This
year the festival will help
provide support for the Boys
and Girls Club in
Hogansville.
To be successful, the
Hummingbird Festival
needs volunteers to staff
booths, drive the shuttle
busses and other important
functions.
Anyone who can volun-
teer for at least four hours
on either day of the festival is
urged to contact Mary
Stewart at 706-637-9497 or
706-637:5912.
Authorized Sales and Service ( Authorized Sales and Service I
3152 West Point Road • LaGrange, GA
706-812-1515 • admin@southerncart.com
