fine printWe headed out in eager anticipation. It had been many too many months since we’d spent time on our favorite central Florida river. The holiday and an online coupon promised a few stress-free, sun-dappled hours in a canoe. Ignoring Google Map’s toll way and interstate route, we opted for the less-traveled path to our destination. Meandering through roadways shaded with Spanish moss-covered live oaks, admiring the estates of the two percent, we arrived at the park. As we pulled up to the attendant’s station, I flashed the voucher, using the app I had downloaded just that morning.

The cashier responded just as quickly. “Those coupons are not valid on holidays or holiday weekends. It’s in the fine print.”

The fine print? Who reads the fine print? In my self-congratulatory pride over successfully downloading the app, I had looked no further than the QR code. Had I printed the voucher, I would have seen the restrictions under the heading, “The Fine Print,” listing the specific exempt dates.

Disappointed, we headed back home.

What other disappointments do we encounter in life because we haven’t read the fine print? Advertisers and corporations are legally required to disclose all the terms or conditions, favorable and unfavorable, of a transaction. Thus, every legal document or agreement contains the ambiguous and confusing language in small, difficult-to-read print that most of us gloss over. The fine print can disclose severe penalties for late payments, even for paying off a mortgage contract early. Failure to read these details carefully can result in more disappointment than our foiled holiday plans.

God’s Word has no such fine print. About the essentials in life it is clear: Trust Me. I am your Creator. I know what you need for this life and the next and am abundantly capable and desirous of meeting all your needs. Just trust and obey.

Nothing ambiguous, confusing, or disappointing about that.

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4 thoughts on “Disappointment. Or What Happens When You Don’t Read the Fine Print

  • July 31, 2013 at 2:32 am
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    what a bummer of a way to get a great story! I love how you turned it into a useful takeaway for us though…

    Reply
  • July 31, 2013 at 2:08 am
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    It is disappointing since fine print usually carries restrictions of use and choices. I am glad there is no fine print in the Bible…just fine wisdom.

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  • July 30, 2013 at 10:06 pm
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    Judy, love this! You are so right, God always delivers and gives us more than we could dream of most times!

    Reply
    • July 31, 2013 at 12:34 am
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      Thanks, Tammy.

      Reply

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