As a child growing up in the 50’s, we did not have video games to keep us occupied when we were not in school. I heard 1,000 times that idle hands are the devil’s workshop so I was kept busy. Since we did not have all of the things kids today have, we would be given jobs to do or we would invent something that would amuse us.

One such invented game, when we had all of the neighborhood kids over, was to tell a story in someone’s ear and they would pass it on to someone else and so on. When the last person had the story whispered in their ear they would tell the story as they remembered it being told them just a moment before.

The amazing thing was that the story never ended as it started. Sometimes it was so far off that it did not even resemble the story that was whispered in the first person’s ear. I am sure that many of you are relating to this childhood game.

I have found that a story related over and over never does remain the same. Many times people get bad information or are damaged because of it. Did we learn anything from that childhood game? Can second, third, or fourth party stories ever be accurate? Are there many things that do not need to be passed on? Is there guidance available to us to keep this from happening?

These and other life questions will be addressed Sunday morning as “The Gathering Place Family” meets in the Washington High School Gymnasium at 10 a.m. for our Pre-Service Connection where we enjoy coffee, juice and donuts. Our Worship Service and Children’s Church then begins at 10:30. Come at 7 p.m. and be part of our Wednesday night Bible Study and Children’s Ministry on the third floor above Trends at 120 West Court Street.