J. Davy Crockett III

As we walked from the defense attorney’s office to the courthouse, where I was to testify in a dispute over an insurance contract, I mentioned to the attorney that when the witnesses were “sworn in”, that I would not swear. He shot a curious glance my way and asked, “Is that some religious thing?” I responded, “Jesus said, ‘Swear not at all,’” (Matthew 5:34, KJV) and I explained that I take Him at His word. We walked on in silence, and soon were sitting in the courtroom as the presiding judge began the proceedings.

The late Jerry Clower, a teller of funny stories, related a hilarious tale about the lady who went into an old-fashioned butcher shop. She said to the proprietor behind the refrigerated meat case, “I would like a 3½ pound frying chicken.” It was near the end of the day, and as the butcher reached down behind the counter into the chest full of ice that had contained the poultry, he found there was only one left. He plopped the chicken on the scale, and it weighed a little less than 3½ pounds.

The speaker at our business organization breakfast was a prominent attorney known for his service to the community. In his remarks, he commented on the pleasure he derived from working with the Boy Scouts of America program, especially the Cub Scouts.

Sometimes, colloquial expressions—those well-worn, time-honored phrases that have come into common use—are passed from generation to generation as a part of the culture. Hokey? Yes, they can be, but these pithy expressions can convey some wisdom if one actually listens and gives them some thought.

Some slogans just stick with you, no matter how much time passes. Some clever phrasing or a catchy tune becomes a part of your psyche after you hear it a few times. Some are very simple, but capture the essence of the company, product or service that is being touted.