946) When I hear figures of speech or quotes, I often wonder where it originated. One example I heard here in Downeast Maine is, she’s tougher than a boiled owl. I immediately knew what the speaker was communicating, but I wondered about its origin. One source said that it comes from a book in 1857 entitled, Godey’s Lady’s Book and it means resilient. Other sources claim the phrase is from another source. It doesn’t matter because its meaning is the same.

Here’s another rone. Don’t be so heavenly minded that you are no earthly good. Good advice and we see it illustrated in Acts 1:1-11. Jesus has just ascended into heaven and his followers are just standing there, staring into the sky. Two men appear among them (can we assume they were angels?) and they ask the disciples why they’re just standing there staring. It implies to me that this idleness was not useful. Why? Because of what they tell the disciples next. They inform them that Jesus was going to come again the way he left. This gives the feeling of urgency that they be ready for when Jesus returns. Standing there staring into the heavens is not part of this urgency.

Being “heavenly minded” isn’t a bad thing and being of “earthly good” only, isn’t. There must be a balance. Ask God for the discernment of telling the two apart.