The illusive art of catching up (standard:Inspirational stories, 908 words)
Author: Godspenman	Added: Oct 24 2011	Views/Reads: 2829/1889	Story vote: 0.00 (0 votes)
Is it just me, or do others have trouble catching up? Just when it looks like I am almost caught up with some project or my to-do-list, something happens setting me back a few paces. One step forward, as they say and for me 17 steps backward. Or, so it se

Is it just me, or do others have trouble catching up? Just when it looks
like I am almost caught up with some project or my to-do-list, 
something happens setting me back a few paces. One step forward, as 
they say and for me 17 steps backward. Or, so it seems. 

I don't have any problem whatsoever catching a cold. I once even caught
a fly in my mouth while preaching, and it is as easy as New York style 
cheesecake to catch the dickens from the Gracious Mistress of the 
Parsonage. Catching up is another matter all together. 

Two things happened last week that brought this to my attention. 

First, I took someone out to lunch. That in itself is not outstanding.
My wife tells me I am out to lunch all the time. 

Have you ever tried to impress someone by taking them out to lunch and
insist on paying for lunch? That is exactly what I did this past week. 
Why I ever try to impress anyone is beyond my wife's wildest 
imagination, but I try, much to her chagrin. 

With a couple of hours to spare, my friend called me. Immediately I set
into action a plan to meet him at the restaurant for lunch – on me. 

We had a grand time catching up on each other's life. Personally, I was
thrilled to Catch Up on something. Unfortunately, I thought I was on a 
roll with ham and cheese. It was delicious to enjoy this brief time if 
only for a moment, but all good things do end. 

Things were about to turn ugly. No, someone did not bring me a mirror.
Instead, the affable waitress brought me the check. 

Normally, this would not be a problem. I would accept the check after
some friendly banter with the waitress complaining about the amount and 
threatening not to tip her and she threatening to tell my wife. We all 
smiled and then it happened. 

I casually reached around to my back pocket to extract my wallet
containing my credit card with which I would pay the check. My back 
pocket was as empty as a politician's promises. 

At first, a slight streak of panic raced through my person causing me to
freeze in petrifying fear. My first thought, I had someone else's 
trousers on. But whose? More important, where was the man wearing my 
trousers? 

I smiled one of those smiles that says, “Oops, I'm in trouble but I
don't want anyone to know.” 

My friend sensed something was wrong; friends are like that. Looking at
me he said, “Is anything wrong?” 

Being the truthful person I am, I said, “Wrong? What could be wrong?
We've just enjoyed a great time together. No, nothing's wrong. 
Absolutely nothing is wrong.” One problem with friends is they always 
know when you are lying. My friend was no different. He just looked at 
me and said, “OK, what's wrong?” 

I may have trouble catching up but I have no trouble whatsoever being
caught with my pants down. Well, maybe not quite down but certainly 
empty. Nothing is sadder than a man wearing empty trousers. 

“Did you forget your wallet?” my friend asked with delight dancing in
his eyes. 

He happily paid the tab but I will never live it down. 

The second incident also had to do with my wallet. Although this time, I
did not forget my wallet. 

I had an early morning meeting across town. I knew my car was running on
fumes but no need to worry. I left the house early enough to stop and 
gas up. 

Pulling out of my driveway, I noticed the gas gauge was lower than I
remembered it being the night before. A tinge of terror gripped my mind 


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