Most of us have computer inboxes chock-full of “forwards” from friends. We can’t possibly read them all, but some are clever enough to pull us in.

When I received pictures of signs outside different churches, a few of them laugh-out-loud funny, I was inspired to begin my own collection of attention-grabbing signs.

For example, the other day I saw a minivan with a crumpled rear end that told the tale of an accident. The owner had put a sign in his back window:

“Put your phone down! I don’t want another bruise.”

Last summer our neighborhood association erected a sign atop our beach dune. It’s a quote from Carl Sandburg, who lived near here briefly. He loved the wide beaches, and local lore has it he worked on his Lincoln biography during his Michigan years. The sign says:

“THE DUNES CONSTITUTE A SIGNATURE OF TIME AND ETERNITY. THEIR LOSS WOULD BE IRREVOCABLE — Carl Sandburg”

Our board hopes to use Sandburg’s clout to guide our footsteps toward the designated pathways that go up, over and down the dune. We all love our beach and are glad to comply.

Last week while in Chicago, I noticed another interesting sign tied to a small tree growing through a sidewalk “port” in front of Marshall Fields:

“This tree gives back $1,436 worth of environmental benefits over the next 15 years.”

It was tagged by the Morton Arboretum (located west of Chicago) with the words, “Every tree counts,” touting the myriad benefits of trees. The former mayor, Richard M. Daley, had put his stamp of approval on the project and on the tree label.

Americans are fortunate to live in a country that allows them to say almost anything. My own children have been on mission trips to countries where word-freedom was limited. They needed advance training on what not to say.

The gift of words was initiated by God and given to all of us. But it wasn’t just so we could communicate back and forth with each other. He hoped we would return his word-gifts to him.

That goes for any and every topic, and he has initiated a 24/7 open door policy of frankness and honesty. He doesn’t want anything to limit our sharing words with him, hoping we’ll communicate personally, not by posting signs.

God encourages freedom of speech toward him. We’re foolish not to take him up on it, because when we make the effort, he returns words back to us in a perfect circle of communication.

The other day I was heading for a Kohls store and felt lucky to find the number one parking spot empty. But as I pulled in, I saw it wasn’t for me. A sign said:

“RESERVED FOR SUPER STAR OF THE MONTH”

I wasn’t sure who that was but knew I had to back out and find another spot.

God hadn’t posted that sign, because if he had, any of us could have parked there.

Jesus said, “If you abide in me, and my words abide in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be done for you.” (John 15:7)