Thoughts from Mark "Hat" Rackley

Gray hair is a crown of splendor;
    it is attained in the way of righteousness.

• Proverbs 16:31

Foreigners sap his strength,
    but he does not realize it.
His hair is sprinkled with gray,
    but he does not notice.

• Hosea 7:9

“As I looked,
“thrones were set in place,
    and the Ancient of Days took his seat.
His clothing was as white as snow;
    the hair of his head was white like wool.
His throne was flaming with fire,
    and its wheels were all ablaze.
A river of fire was flowing,
    coming out from before him.
Thousands upon thousands attended him;
    ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him.
The court was seated,
    and the books were opened.
“Then I continued to watch because of the boastful words the horn was speaking. I kept looking until the beast was slain and its body destroyed and thrown into the blazing fire. (The other beasts had been stripped of their authority, but were allowed to live for a period of time.)
“In my vision at night I looked, and there before me was one like a son of man, coming with the clouds of heaven. He approached the Ancient of Days and was led into his presence. He was given authority, glory and sovereign power; all nations and peoples of every language worshiped him. His dominion is an everlasting dominion that will not pass away, and his kingdom is one that will never be destroyed.

• Daniel 7:9-14

The New Boilerplate

My wife filled a small book with “Angel” on the cover.  It was hidden with a box of crafting things.  On 18 July 2025, I thought I had posted the last of these.  But this little angel book held a prayer, followed by 71 quotes.  So, the “with a little help” series is back in business for a while.  And it will be fun for me.  She did not attribute any of the quotes.  The first quote was from James A. Garfield, the 20^th president of the USA.  The next one was disputed, with some thinking it originated with Teddy Roosevelt and others saying Fred Astaire.  After the prayer, these might be on the lighter side.

Her quote

“Gray hair is God’s graffiti.”

• Bill Cosby

The Discussion

My wife had a problem with her hair that was more profound than turning gray.  Her hair had always been thin, but then it started thinning.  By the time it was silver, she needed a wig.  I suggested a gray wig, and she finally agreed, in theory.  Her next wig purchase was a combination of two wigs.  One was much longer hair and when she saw herself in the mirror, she decided that wig was not one she would wear to church.  Too much vavoom – from a stylish and extra energy point of view.

For me, I had more gray hair than my Dad ever did, but as my hair is thinning in my mid-70s, most of it is still dark, except for the mustache which is almost totally white.

Besides my wife never seeing me without the mustache, looking my age seems to be my main reason to not shave it off.

But my mother had salt and pepper hair almost all her life, after I was born.  That was one thing that my wife did not like.  If you go gray, then go gray.  Going halfway and then not being one color or another was not what my wife wanted.

But I have friends who were white-haired in their forties, and it looked good.  Maybe they did not like it, but I thought they looked good.

But I think I would love having God’s graffiti than anything else.  If I came up with a better idea, I am sure it would be a major flop.

Let us not try to improve on what God designed for our lives.  All the changes in their seasons are part of His plan.

Glory be His Name.

Soli Deo Gloria.  Only to God be the Glory