Our Days are Numbered
October 16, 2003

“We’re number one! We’re number one!” That’s what you hear at the football game. It’s a good thing to be number one—depending on the context, of course. Sometimes it’s better to be number two, or some other number even (…or odd.)

Numbers permeate life, and different situations call for different numbers. For instance, remember this variation of an old saying: “The early bird may catch the worm, but the second mouse gets the cheese.” Context is everything.

Another example: The range of numbers for golf scores and I.Q. scores overlap, but you would not want to mix them up. A score in the low 70’s may be good for golf, but if that’s your I.Q., you are not up to par. There is an inverse relationship in their context, regarding what represents a good number.

While we are on “the seventies,” wasn’t that was a great decade for music? “I love the seventies.” Seventy-something is also a good temperature-- provided your speaking of the weather, but not if you are referring to internal body temperature. Again, context is everything.

Even with the numbers on a clock, context makes all the difference. If I look at a clock and it says three o’clock, it had better be daylight outside. There is no good reason to be up at three o’clock in the morning. My only memories of being awake at that hour of the night are from many years ago, and are rather fuzzy now. Actually, they were fuzzy back then, too, as I was not fully conscious. All I can remember is a big wooden rocking chair, attempting to squeak out a lullaby, and patting my (then) baby daughter on her back while trying to pin down her head on my shoulder while she screamed like there wasn’t going to be any tomorrow. (And for her, there almost wasn’t.)

Speaking of kids and numbers, counting off is cute and educational whenever it’s performed by a preschooler, but not when a parent tries to use it as a disciplinary tool. ‘Ever caught yourself counting to your child? “You had better come to me by the time I count to three! One… two…” All that means is that you have already told them-- they are not obeying-- and you are reluctant to deal with it. You might as well say, “If you do that… three more times, I’m really going to get upset.”

Besides, when you get caught in the counting trap, your kids learn the sequence of events and exploit it to the fullest. They are not dumb, just selfish. They acclimate to your cadence, your timing, and then take you to the limit anyway. So why not just lower the limit? Save both of you the trouble by simply giving an order once, followed by an immediate response if they do not comply. Surprise them! And when they complain, “Hey! You didn’t count!” just tell them that you are now implementing a new “no counting” policy. Believe me, they will adapt.

But if you are going to count, at least do something with the resulting number. You can relate it to the number of spankings they will receive, or the number of days that they will be grounded, or something–anything! But basically, when it comes to counting off, you can count me out.

Numbers should not be used frivolously. Their power can be used for either good or evil. While numbers have been used to divide, our creator has commanded us to “be fruitful and multiply.” It’s up to us to harness the power of numbers for good. There is even a book in the Bible titled “Numbers.” Context makes the difference.

Numbers will always play an integral part of our lives, so we might as well get used to it. We are surrounded by numbers every day, 24 and 7. In the mornings, we grab an 8-ounce cup of coffee at 7-11 before driving 60 M.P.H. to our 9 to 5 jobs, entertaining dreams of a 6-figure salary, so that we can retire by 65.

Our days are numbered, so count your blessings. Don’t let the countless worries life do a number on you. If you want to take exception to what I have enumerated, “You know my name, look up the number.”

© Copyright 2003 Glen Davis