Visiting Shut-ins - as Everyone SHOULD

We went to a place called "Johnson's Shut-Ins" near Arcadia, Missouri. Don't get hung up on the name-- this is a state park with a shallow river you can swim in. Absolutely loved the place. It was 95 on the thermometer and the water was clean and cool. Because of the rocks creating little "rapids", there are great places to sit against boulders and just let the water rush by you - SOOO refreshing.But back to the name.
I thought the term "shut-ins" meant someone who is homebound -due to infirmity or illness. Someone who needs phone calls from the prayer chain, meals on wheels, and a real live visitor now and then, to sit and chat. What genius some Missouri geologist had in naming this nifty outdoor playplace. Imagine the next time his mother-in-law called to see if he could get her toilet unclogged: "Oh, Mildred, I can't come over right now - I've got to visit shut-ins!" Or when his neighbor asks if he'd like to come over and watch tapes 4-9 of his recent trip to Indiana: "Hey, Dwight, I really appreciate the invite, but I've committed to spending more time with shut-ins this week". What a brilliant (and truthful) excuse! Reminds me of the time a guy in our town wanted to open a tavern. He named his bar "The Office" and the place was always busy (so I'm told). A friend of ours was home with the kids and wondered why his wife wasn't home from work yet. Called her cell phone: "Hi, honey - where you at?" "Oh, I'm still at "The Office", dear- be home in an hour or two". These unusual names for places has inspired me to give a new name to my bed. Its new name is "the word" (small w, of course). Friend on phone: "Hi, what have you been doing this afternoon?" Me: "Oh, just spending some time in "the word". Friend: "You sure inspire me. etc. etc."

Here's us spending more quality time with the shut-ins:I could go on - but I'd really rather go get in "the word".