Sign of the Apocalypse

 Back in 2012 Time Magazine had an article entitled Sign of the Apocalypse.  I was made aware of the Sign of the Apocalypse shortly thereafter when I made a trip to the Chilton County Water Authority in Thorsby, Alabama.  It was one of those deals where I had to be there.  I had called to see why the water authority had turned off the water to a piece of property that I bought adjacent to my home in Jemison.

It is the policy of the authority to turn off the water when there is a land transaction.  I understand that but I had bought the property a year ago and I was ignorant of the fact that the water authority had such a policy to lock and eventually remove the water meter.  I was one of the original property owners that helped create the county water system and I had a place for a meter on my property but never used it because I have a good well.

After a few months of not needing county water, the water authority removed the meter.  When I called concerning the water and the missing meter, the powers that be at the authority told me that they had removed it and that I had to show proof that I bought the property.  I had to produce legal documentation that verified that I owned the property and I had to produce a photo ID to prove I was who I said I was and that the reconnect fee was $100.  I thought, “You got to be kidding me.”

When I arrived after a two-hour drive at the Chilton County Water Authority, I thought I had mistakenly entered a convenient store late at night.  I had never been in the facility, but I had passed it on many occasions.  In fact, I went by it every day that I went to church as pastor of Friendship in Clanton before moving to my present position.  I never would have imagined the tight security inside.  The secretaries were behind what I detected as bulletproof Plexiglas.

The secretary behind the glass knew me; I had graduated with her brother.  I told her that I needed to see a Ms. Fox.  Ms. Fox was the one that told me to gather all the information to have the water service reconnected.

Ms. Fox told me that she did not handle the reconnecting process and the classmate’s sister would be the one to have the serviced reconnected.

I had a briefcase full of information.  I produced a copy of the deed and property description.  I produced the legal documents where the lawyer processed the sale of the property to me.  I had to give my driver’s license, which was my photo ID.  Then underneath the glass in the contraption that resembles those at the all-night convenient store where you slide your money for your purchases, the secretary slips me a piece of paper and tells me to write down my social security number.

I told her that when I borrowed the money to buy the property that I did not have to do all the legal paperwork that I was required to do to have a water meter reconnected.  I slid a check for $100 in the contraption.

I know that things have changed a good bit since I left there twelve years prior.  I thought, man they must have some more issues with people and their water bills.  A couple of shady characters did come in while did the paperwork. Growing up there, I realized they were just some “good old boys.”  My mind was boggled with what is happening in the world where I have to produce all this legal mess for water and people are protesting, especially in 2021, showing an ID when they vote.  Water is vital, but so are the people we elect into office.  Water fraud is bad, but voter fraud can be more destructive.

I told my friend, the secretary, that I know that it is no account good for nothing sorry people that cause all the hassle with everything we do today.

To give an example, my son Aaron and I stopped at Advanced Auto in Alabaster, Alabama shortly after the water turnoff to purchase some spray that would seal a water leak in the plastic overflow bottle on his pickup.  The guy helping us showed us the different products for doing the job.  He removed a package and said I recommend this.  I looked at the package and it appeared to be empty.  I said it looks empty.  Sure enough, someone had entered the store, carefully slit the package, and removed the contents.  The guy behind the counter said that one guy walked in and commenced to put tools in his pants.  I thought, “Now I know why pants hang so low on some men.”  He said people do it all the time.  We live in a fraudulent and putrefaction society.

I had a friend that had stock in Walmart.  He said that the home office sent their security team to our local store to check the security of the store.  Walmart securities loaded two tractor-trailer loads of items from the store and were never caught.  They had stolen lawn mowers, big screen televisions and hundreds of other items and no one caught them. My friend told me that the Walmart figures thievery into to operating of their stores.  During the past year things have escalated and the Apocalypse is closer than we imagined.

This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come.  (2 Timothy 3:1 KJV).