WOLLEY SEGAP

Growing up in Pittsburgh there was a guy named Wolley Segap who encouraged all of us Pittsburghers to spend more time letting our fingers walk through the yellow pages.

Unfortunately, Wolley's probably long gone and I fear his beloved Yellow Pages are not far behind. I never even had the opportunity to ask him where he came up with such an unusual name. Always wondered if he was related to Nosmo King.

There is so much more to be learned via the computer search engines. It's quicker and keeps the mind active.

Not only do you get the addresses and phone numbers you might get a picture of the business as well the ones on either side. Besides, if you don't want to head out you can review the store inventory and order it online. Poor Wolley!

Another benefit is you don't have to knock over half a dozen bottles while trying to retrieve the Yellow Pages from the bottom shelf in the dining room cupboard. As I grow older I realize I make less use of each learning tool; probably all that leg bending to retrieve them.

Like friend Harry (heppie2335@blogspot.com) I find myself becoming more and curious about the world around me - both current and past. I leave the future up to those more intellectual
souls within my associates group.

A friend of ours sent a beautiful story about"the missing day" and it's connection between the Bible and the space program. I fear (but, did not share) that it seems both are losing favor in this country.

As with so many articles/emails we receive -and as often commented on by Harry - many are simply not true. It took me a while to catch on to this. I grew up in a different generation where we were taught lying and liars (was/were) the exception - and God help us if we attempted to
join their ranks.

It was my allowing myself to let my fingers walk through the web pages today that caused me to confirm the missing day story - while appealing - was made up.

The email spoke of a Harold Hill who was referenced as President of Curtis Engine Company in Baltimore, Maryland. My research discovered that there was indeed such a compaany - near Baltimore, and it once had as it's president, someone named Harold Hill.

That was a relief to me as the only other Harold Hill with whom I had any familiarity was sort of a scoundrel and the invention of composer, Meredith Wilson, author of The Music Man.

Investigating further by going to one of the many investigative sites out here on the web, "Truth or Fiction", it appears that any connection to scientific research and the Bible as to the lost day referred to in The Book of Joshua (10: 12-13)was apparently an invention of Mr. Hills' fertile imagination.

He lectured on the subject frequently but, when asked for a reference cite as to his findings, his responses became more and more infrequent, to the point where he stopped responding.

The conundrum I then faced was whether I should or should not share my research with our friend. My decision was to do it but - gently - a former skill that seems to have abandoned me in recent years.

It was only later, as my research continued into authors such as C.S. Lewis and G.K. Chesterton there was a regret in not recommending some of their works to her. They are folks who our Christian friend could have quoted proudly.

Once, long ago, in my more spiritual days, and while reading books from home for the association of the blind, Lewis's classic"The Screwtape Letters" appeared in my mailbox as my current assignment.

Often I attempted to liven up my reading by assigning different voices for the characters in the books. The series on Narnia by Tolken almost did me in.

Screwtape was a delight. My regret here was, due to my enthusiasm as I read his letters, I lost some of his sarcasm and may have even sounded apologetic. My fear is that I probably came off sounding like a voice better suited for his nephew, a young temptor, Wormwood, rather than the senior demon, Screwtape.

In my haste to get to the next letter, I guess I sorta "lost my way". It's possible I totally confused the reader as to Lewis and his clever message.

Therefore, you might say the measure of my success as a missionary is still very much up in the air.

Maybe, I should have just stuck with Wolley World.