As I mentioned last week, one of my family's favorite movies is an old black and white titled “Harvey.” with Jimmy Stewart and a large invisible rabbit called Harvey. Not only is the movie funny, it also contains a few scenes and dialogue with valuable lessons. Last week we learned Dr. Chumley had a pretty shallow idea about what would be “wonderful”. Today I'd like you to think about a scene where Dr. Chumley realizes that his whole life has basically been wasted on examining “fly specks.”

Elwood P. Dowd (last week I incorrectly called him Edward) happened to meet his friend Harvey (the 6'+ invisible rabbit) after leaving a tavern. He helps his inebriated friend into a cab and turns around to see, leaning against a lamp-post, this large rabbit named Harvey. After describing the meeting to Dr. Chumley and after Dr. Chumley himself became intoxicated, he himself began to see Harvey! (Remember, Harvey is typically invisible to the general population).

At first terrified by the large talking white rabbit, he finally comes the the conclusion that all of his career as a psychiatrist has been spent looking at fly specks while “miracles” were leaning against lamp-posts outside of taverns downtown.

While the movie is certainly fictional, the moral of this part of the story is very clear. There are some who are spending their whole lives on miniscule little specks while letting the most important things in life slip right on by. They are totally consumed and preoccupied by “fly-specks”!

Consider the person for whom the most important aspect of his life is his career. He works very hard in his youth getting as good an education as he can. He earns good grades so as to get a scholarship. In college his nose is to the grindstone and his shoulder constantly to the wheel. In graduate and post-graduate school it is the same thing. He begins his profession and works diligently at it 50-60 hours a week for 20-40 years. He faithfully lays by for retirement and when that day comes he dutifully spends his time doing his leisure activity of choice.

During all this time his consuming passion is his career. Later in life he finds that he has neglected his wife and his children. His closest relationships are with his golfing (or fishing) buddies. At last his health fails and alone he now realizes that he has neglected the important things in life and spent his time on, you guessed it, “fly specks.”

For others it may not be a career, it may be something different. The ultimate outcome, however, is the same. If we neglect the most important things in life to focus on and work in the trivial things, we will end up at the end of life feeling very hollow and frustrated.

When I reach the close of my life let me be able to say that I have spent my life in that which is worthwhile and valuable. Let me be able to say that I have served God faithfully, that I have demonstrated the love of Christ to my family and friends and that I have served my fellow man in humble benevolence. Let me not get to the end of my life and say... “fly specks!”