Let Me Tell You A Story About Mugwumps

These mugwumps are strange looking birds that I see sometimes alongside the interstate highways when I’m on a long trip in my motor home. Mugwumps look kind of like big crows except they have white rumps and long black tails that are about twice the length of their bodies. Mugwumps never fly. At least, I’ve never seen one of them in the air.

Every flock of Mugwumps I’ve seen was just sitting on a fence. However, I have seen them move around in a rather unique kind of unhurried dance. Here’s what they do: First, they slowly turn or rotate to face one side of the fence and look cautiously around. Next, they very carefully step or hop around and turn back to look on the other side of the fence again. It seems to me they are always moving, always turning in endless circles at the same place on the fence top. You could say the bird’s face or “mug” is one side of the fence while its white rump (wump) and long black tail is on the other side. My guess is that’s why they are called: “Mugwumps.”

Now that I think about it, I’ve known some people who remind me of Mugwumps. Why? Because, whenever I see them they seem to be sitting on a fence and fidgeting around in a restless, uncertain way. When I talk with them, I sometimes ask, just to get a friendly conversation started: “Where do you guys fellowship, that is, where do you go to church on Sunday?” They will usually look away with a vacant stare, hem and haw a bit and then say something like: “Well, er – we haven’t yet decided just which church we’ll go to.” Next, I might ask if they know Jesus.” They usually mumble something about the fact that they think they did hear of him a few years ago – somewhere, someplace or other.

At that point I know for sure these folks are exactly like Mugwumps! They are sitting on the fence, unable to decide what to do and which way to go, or who to believe in. They live lives of indecision, never knowing where they are going or what to say or who to believe, or whether they want their mug on this side or their wump on that side. In short, they are always on the fence about everything.

There was a time in my life when I got frustrated and just walked away from indecisive Mugwump people like that. Usually, as I left them sitting there, I would be shaking my head in amazement and disbelief at their complete indecision about everything – including Jesus. But, I don’t do that anymore.

Now, when I meet a Mugwump kind of person – by now I’ve learned to recognize one a mile away – I blurt right out without mincing words: “ Hi, I’m a Christian and I’ve decided to accept Jesus as my Lord and Savior.” Then I say: “ Jesus wants me to tell you a story to help you get off the fence you are on so you can grab hold of the happiness, freedom from worry and success Jesus has planned for you, both now and it the future.” Then, while offering up a silent prayer toward Heaven for help, I say to the confused person on the fence in front of me: “Let me tell you a story about –Mugwumps…”

P.S. Now, my next question (you guessed it!) is how come you, - if you’re not a Mugwump,- have never decided to look at my website to see what I have to make your life better? Website: http://www.originalsbyweber.com