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Mayday

Mayday

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Mayday--helicopters at Ft. Campbell, KYOld movies often show someone in trouble who calls, “Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!”

Mayday is an internationally recognized radiotelephone signal for help.

The person, usually on a ship or in an airplane, is in crisis. Problems may include:

  • A fire
  • Engine trouble
  • A collision

If the person in the thick of it survives, it may be on a wing and a prayer.

According to The Free Dictionary, mayday originated with the French phrase, m’aider.

M’aider means “Help me.” Danger threatens.

Mayday now includes other difficulties or dangers.

Most of us have experienced the stress of major and minor disasters.

  • Storms destroy property.
  • Appliances stop working.
  • Cars break down.
  • Electronics die.

Mayday should not be confused with May Day, the May 1 springtime celebration.

May 1 is also Labor Day in some countries.  

 When emergencies arise, God directs us to help one another.

God comforts us. Yet, God also guides us to help the hurting. Shared love and support encourage us to get a grip and keep on keeping on.

“The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him” (Nahum 1:7 NIV).

Thanks to Mike Bertoglio for the suggestion.

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Handwriting on the Wall

Handwriting on the Wall

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Handwriting on the Wall - Emily AkinPlease welcome my friend Emily Akin as today’s guest writer. Emily and I met at Kentucky Christian Writers Conference. She continues to be one of my greatest sources for writing information. Emily lives in northwest Tennessee with her husband of 47 years and their Jack Russell terrier, Jeb.

Handwriting-on-the-Wall“I should have seen the handwriting on the wall,” she said. “Company profits were down. I saw my friends being laid off month after month. I knew my turn was coming.”

What does it mean — seeing the handwriting on the wall?

The expression comes from the Bible story of Belshazzar’s Feast in the book of Daniel. Many Jewish people were in exile in Babylon during Belshazzar’s reign. At a court feast, Belshazzar served wine in gold and silver goblets. He had taken the goblets from the Jewish temple in Jerusalem. Later, a hand with no body appeared. It wrote terrifying words on the wall. Daniel, a Jewish exile who had become a court advisor, was called. He interpreted the writing.

This is what was written: mene, mene, tekel, parsin. “Here is what these words mean: Mene: God has numbered the days of your reign and brought it to an end. Tekel: You have been weighed on the scales and found wanting. Parsin: Your kingdom is divided and given to the Medes and Persians.” That very night Belshazzar, king of the Babylonians, was slain, and Darius the Mede took over the kingdom, at the age of sixty-two. (Daniel 5:25-28, 30-31, NIV).

Someone who has seen the handwriting on the wall may have

  • Had warning that disaster was coming.
  • Been doing something that he/she knew was wrong.
  • Realized a certain situation would not end well.

We sometimes continue in denial even when we have seen warning signs of

  • Job loss (company had been cutting employees for months).
  • Health problems (hereditary or lifestyle choices).
  • Personal problems (relationship with God or other people).

When we follow God’s rules for living and seek His guidance, we can learn to interpret the handwriting on the wall for ourselves.

“Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I trust your commands.” (Psalm 119:66, NIV).

Do you have a favorite expression or one you want explained? If so, please comment.

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