Rumors and the "Importance of Respect"

 

I was driving around the backroads of Hardeman County and took this picture. I am an Amateur Photographer. I enjoy driving the dirt roads where few people venture. Those that drive down these dirt roads are usually getting from one field to another. It is not uncommon to see combines and other farm equipment along the sides of the road. I have witnessed these machines in use.

As I was driving, I came across this particular farmhouse. You could tell it had been there a while. As I got out to look around, I noticed an old combine sitting all by itself.

This combine stood out. How long it had been sitting there before I came across it is unknown. I could tell by the looks of it that it had seen its fair share of harvests and maintenance.

Further back from this combine was this old building. It was a shed that had long since better days. As I was taking these pictures, an old farm truck stopped. The driver got my attention. He wanted to know what I was doing. I explained my intent and purpose. Thankfully, he agreed!

I mentioned that I saw this old-style refrigerator just sitting in the middle of the yard. He smiles. His eyes lit up. He explained that he and his son still ran cattle on several fields in the area. He takes me over to this refrigerator and shows me this!

Cattle need a source of freshwater. This faucet was the source where it could provide them with that. A broken faucet was a hindrance to their need for water. People tend to be more careful around that faucet!

The importance of respect is allowing this Gentleman to tell his side of the story. I wonder how many times he was accused of being the "typical" redneck that allows his "fields" to become junked over?

Rumors are dangerous in that a portion is a truth. However, there remains a portion that isn't true. I will not go as far as calling it a lie. It could be the imagination of the person spreading the vicious rumor. Respect allows you to get to the "other side" and make your own decision. The assumption that everything spoken about someone is the truth is not only dangerous but also naïve! 

The words of a talebearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly. - Proverbs 18:8

There is a story about a man working at a temperature station. It was his job to check the temperatures of the employees coming to work. According to the rumor, the passenger in the car leaned across to have their temperature checked. This man leaned in, according to the story, took the temperature by reaching across the driver. In this rumor, he was supposed to have "smelt" the driver and said, "You smell nice!" An employee should have a reasonable expectation of respect.

Well, yesterday I got a chance to talk to this man. He laughed at the thought of him, "sniffing" the driver. He flat out denied that portion of the story. He went on to explain what he did. Admittedly, after having heard his side of the story, I would have done things differently. I have done it differently. It is my opinion that he didn't think things through. I don't believe he "sniffed" anyone.

It reflects upon the person spreading the truth along with an "embellishment" of their personal bias.  In this case, I would refer to the word "embellishment" as the politically correct word for an outright lie! Sometimes the "truth" doesn't engage a person. Sometimes the truth is bland. Sometimes it is tempting to "add to" the story to add some excitement!

Sincerely,

David A. Kitchens, Editor