I contacted Del City about that mystery tree, and was referred to someone at a local agricultural college extension service. The farther I have to go afield like that, the less likely anyone will take an interest in my query. That’s the way it works in this part of the world.
Has anyone else noticed? The people who work at the elite spying agencies are not actually more talented or competent than the rest of us. Even the most highly trained field operatives tend to screw things up. What has protected them so far is that the targets of their spying have been even less competent. Their aura of supremacy is fake. What makes them seem different is that they have been able to hide how mundane they really are under that veil of official secrecy. Lately, with computer crackers breaking in and leakers breaking out, even the secrecy is failing.
Most people I’ve encountered in the past had no trouble working out that I was a Christian. Quite often someone gets around to asking me about it, and the inevitable question is what brand I claim. Most of the time I am unabashed at saying I am a Christian Mystic. That doesn’t answer their question, but it serves to warn them that it’s the wrong question. Naturally, most people have some wrong ideas about that, but it gives me a chance to offer a better understanding. Evangelism is mostly portrayal of the the truth, and only a very small amount is directly talking about it.
I’ve been trying for some time now to come up with a description of what I am. I find every “label, title or whatever” falls short. Ten years ago it was easy, “I’m a Bible believing Christian”. I still am but, my perspective has moved. The title Christian carries a lot of baggage that I don’t haul around anymore. Not that anyone asks and the most I ever say in conversation is ” I go to church” and if I get negative feedback, I answer ” whatever floats your boat” and that ends it.
You’ll think of something when it matters, Iain.