Michael-Grams: M-G: 3.23.20 // Backs With No Heads

Before the summer of 2019, we were relying on satellite for internet service; counting our pricey gigabytes as calories frustrated me to no end. We were located on a ridge about 1,100 feet above sea level. We were finally having cable installed in our subdivision under development. There was this man doing some finalizing work on all the newly installed cable boxes. I knew when he finished this one particular box that I would be next. So, I walked down the street to meet with him to inquire why were all the cable boxes titled at various angles and not perpendicular to the ground.

After a short introduction, I asked him if he would mind fielding a question that I had about cable boxes. Though I interrupted his work, his body language or facial expressions never revealed that he was irritated. It appeared that he welcomed the disruption! I was somewhat surprised by his cordiality. I asked him, “Is it theoretically possible for a man to install a cable box vertically for all I see is leaning cable boxes in every direction?” He slowly shook his head saying, “I’ve noticed.” Before he could say another word, I said, “I bet you did! Do you think that the men installing these cable boxes know the meanings of the words, ‘plumb’ or ‘level?’”

He removed his hat and took out his kerchief from his back pocket. He began to slowly wipe the sweat away from his brow in silence. Then he repositioned his hat back upon his head, making a slight adjustment. Then he took in a deep breath as if pondering an answer and slowly puffed out his cheeks as he exhaled. As he tucked away his kerchief in his back pocket, he said, “The company hires ‘backs with no heads.’ That’s the root of the problem here.” I loved his clever and concise answer. You could tell he was no lowbrow. “You think?” I replied, stating the obvious while smiling and appreciating his personal analysis.

I told him, “In all of my years in managing people, I was always struck by the idea that we never have time to do a job right, but we always have time to fix a problem we created!” He nodded his head. I pointed to my cable box on the vacant lot next to my home as an example, and said, “Look at your next assignment.” “Yep,” he acknowledged; “it looks like the work of ‘backs with no heads.’”

I commented, “You would think that there would be some kind of quality control in place?” “You would think,” he said. “The company is interested in keeping the costs down.” He informed me that if he had to do their job, too, he would not be able to finish his own work on time. This man would eventually touch every box placed in this subdivision, but it was not his job to make sure they were “exactly vertical;” it was the responsibility of the “backs with no heads” to put them in right. It was apparent that their sloppiness irritated him a great deal because the installation was a reflection of the company whether they were contractors or not.

I was a bit reluctant to ask him if he would fix my inherited problem, but that was the very reason I paid him a visit! I boldly asked him anyway, “I know it is not your fault that these boxes are not vertical, but would you be so kind as to upright my box for me if you have the time?” He told me “it would not be a problem.” We shook hands, and I thanked him for his kindness. I offered him a coke to refresh himself, but he declined.

After lunch, he got to my cable box. He did his part and finished the incomplete job of the backs with no heads. In some ways, it was kind of humorous as I watched him from the window in my loft somewhat struggling to get my cable box exactly vertical. I could only imagine, that in the struggle, he had those backs with no heads fresh on his mind. They must have made it difficult for him to straighten up their mess. Actually, the cable box was barely on the empty lot in juxtaposition to mine; my new neighbor and I would wind up sharing the same cable box.

Ironically, a couple of weeks later while his property was being developed, I noticed that the cable box was tilting backward. When I spotted it, I just shook my head in unbelief. The same company that came to fix my severed cable also ran over the cable box and left it that way! I should have complained because the cable to my house was too close to the surface for my liking. Backs with no heads are everywhere; they take no personal responsibility for their actions, but they sure want to be paid for their sloppy work!

I couldn’t stand it; so, I went out one weekend and plumb the box myself, having to use gravel around its base to keep it in place. It was plumb and level for the second time. If there is a next time, I will leave it to my unfriendly neighbor to address since it is located squarely on his property. Come to think of it, he never did thank me for making our cable box upright! I don’t doubt that he blamed me for it!

The immediate thought that came to mind when I saw all of the leaning cable boxes in our neighborhood was the golden rule found in Mt 7:12 and Lk 6:31. After talking with that cable technician, I could frame this question a little more colorfully and descriptively. Would these backs with no heads want their cable box left tilted, if cable subscribers? Maybe they could care less, but isn’t that the problem?

Do you think that God wants His children to ever think, speak, and act like backs with no heads? I am of the opinion that when we intentionally fail to operate by the golden rule, which is connected to loving your neighbor as yourself which is connected to loving Yahweh with the totality of your being, then we will fail to be and do anything close to vertical in our thinking, speaking, and doing that which is pleasing to Yahweh. It is the opposite of what Solomon referred to as under the sun living, a place of Vanity of vanities, says the Preacher, all is vanity (Eccl 1:2; 12:8).

“All about me” living is going horizontal, ground to ground, illustrative of an under the sun mentality rather than vertical living, ground to sky. Vertical living demands our life to be on the level of Scripture and plumb, living inwardly and outwardly straight up and in alignment with its principles. When we base our lifestyle on the Word of God, our vertical (Mk 12:30) and horizontal (Mk 12:31) relationships will be in alignment with Scripture and the golden rule will manifest itself to all for the glory of God in things great and small, in the magnificent and the mundane.

In any given situation backs with no heads never worry about where the bubble is in their lives; the golden rule is meaningless to such a person. They do not realize there is coming a day to ante up. He or she does not see the ripple effect against his or her neighbor and God Himself. There is no desire to live a life on the level of the teaching of Scripture. Does the position of your bubble reveal that you are spiritually tilted and out of the will of God; that you are not upright before Him, spiritually tilting away from His will for your life, finding yourself being sucked into the world of under the sun being drawn away from being pleasing to Yahweh by your own lusts (1 Jn 2:16-17)?

Think of this bubble as our will. The lines are standards set by God according to His Word. If we ignore it by allowing our bubble or will to cross over the line set by God, we are spiritually tilting toward a life that is unpleasing to God because we are violating His standards. As I said so many times before; we are free to choose to be obedient or disobedient, but we are most certainly not free of the consequences of our right or wrong choices.

A back with no head could care less about living for the Lord. When we as believers violate the teaching of Scripture by crossing the line, we are thinking and acting just like backs with no heads. QC or quality control is called by another expression in our world, chastening or getting the bubble back between the lines (Heb 12:5-11). The better life is above the sun living, being exactly vertical and exactly level with the help of the Holy Spirit. Being spiritually plumb and spiritually level is definitely pleasing to Yahweh. <><