I have, in my opinion, the world's perfect job. Just look at the evidence. I love people and I love God. I love talking to people about God and I love talking to God about people.
Therefore, if you put these two together, I am doing what I love doing: the greatest job in the world.
I must confess, however, this was not always the case. When I wore a younger man's suit, I had different ideas about what would be the greatest job in the world for me.
Nowhere on that short list did being a pastor appear. God, sometimes, displays a marvelous sense of humor in selecting people for his service. I am the supreme example.
The apostle Paul writes, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" (1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV.)
As a young person, I thought only one job would be the greatest job in the world. In my mind, I aspired to this fabulous career often fantasizing about how great it would be to spend all my time in this job.
The greatest job in the world to me at that time was being a Snow Cone Man. Nothing compared, in my estimation, to the Snow Cone Man.
I was not alone in my aspirations. Most of my pals at the time harbored similar vocational goals. No person in our lives at the time was as exciting as the Snow Cone Man.
The SCM came down our street three times a week, without fail, much to our delight. This, of course, was during our summer vacation when we were out of school and had plenty of time on our hands.
Perhaps, in our small town, with nothing to really interest or excite us, the Snow Cone Man was the one thing we had to look forward to. Regardless, we believed he had the greatest job in the world.
For one, he rode the coolest motorcycle vehicle I have ever seen - a three-wheel motorcycle, with a large compartment on the back, containing all the snow cone accoutrements. I don't know if it was the motorcycle or the cargo that fascinated us. Your guess is probably the right one.
Also, he wore a nifty white suit with a fabulous hat. At the time, I would have given anything for a hat like his. It was often the topic of our discussion when he left us to our snow cone treats.
One thing was sure, everybody loved him. He sold those snow cones for 5 cents each. What a bargain. The icy treat was a paper cone piled high with crushed ice and then flavored with your choice of strawberry, raspberry, lemon, lime syrup, but my all-time favorite was root beer.
On a hot day in August, there was nothing cooler than a root beer snow cone from the SCM. Moreover, the best part of it was, it only cost a nickel. Of course, a nickel was sometimes hard to come by.
I well remember one day when I didn't have a nickel. I don't remember the reason, but I was being punished for some naughtiness on my part, and my mother would not give me the coveted nickel.
Time came for the Snow Cone Man to come down our street and he stopped right in front of our house. Like a snowstorm in Vermont, kids descended upon him from all over the place to get their daily snow cone.
I looked on, through teary eyes, regretting whatever I did to deprive myself of one of the greatest pleasures in life.
One by one, the kids melted away as they got their snow cones and soon he was all alone. I just hated to see him go. He was ready to start his motorcycle when he looked up and saw me sitting on the porch.
"Hey, Jimmy, don't you want a snow cone today?"
"Hain't got no nickel," I sobbed.
"Come on down," he called back. "You can use one of my nickels today."
Leaping off the porch and smearing tears from my face, I went to him for my snow cone. When I got there he pressed a nickel into my trembling hand and asked, "Now, which flavor do you want? Don't tell me. Root beer, right?"
Root beer was more than all right for me.
As I exchanged his nickel for my root beer snow cone, I could not speak for fear the effort would distract from the smile, which had taken my face by storm. It was the best root beer snow cone I ever had.
Watching him drive away, I thought to myself, that's the greatest job in the world.
More than 40 years separate me from that childhood memory. Looking back, I smile when I realize I have, today, the greatest job in the world.
What could be greater than helping people receive from God what they can't afford. God's marvelous grace is for all who, for one reason or another, do not have the needed "nickel."
Upon further reflection, a verse from the Old Testament came to mind. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1 KJV.)
No matter how much money a person thinks he or she has, they are always one nickel short of God's grace.
Reverend Snyder is currently ministering at the "Family of God Fellowship" in Ocala, Florida. More of his articles are available for reprint at his website: http://www.godspenman.com/ Rev. Snyder is available as a guest speaker. He writes a weekly column and is the author of "You Can Always Tell a Pastor; But Not Very Much " available at: http://www.godspenman.com/
licensed cleaning services Park Ridge ..Rose Ann Schwab is an internationally and world renowned professional... Read More
What does it mean to be comfortable in your own... Read More
"Cast all your anxiety on Him for He cares for... Read More
Catch the express or the super fast bullet train. If... Read More
Before Donna was born she took with her a dollar,... Read More
INTRODUCTIONSpiritual affirmations are positive, statements of intention, that facilitate manifestation.... Read More
The word "gravity" is a word coined by Sir Isaac... Read More
There are no better people to be around than those... Read More
For we do not have a high priest who is... Read More
We are apart of all that is, our consciousness spring... Read More
How many of us rush blindly through our days, fall... Read More
Eden, the garden of ecstasy is no longer available to... Read More
What better example than Jesus' life to explain about having... Read More
Are you always looking for bargains, especially something that you... Read More
Attract and hold your family at home with some unique... Read More
I love rivers. I have for many years lived away... Read More
I want to tell you a love story. It's actually... Read More
Spiritual stuff is a hard sell Roy and one of... Read More
It will all be clear in a minute, but first... Read More
It's not exactly a news flash that we live in... Read More
Connor, a man in his late 40's, has achieved everything... Read More
Most Tarot decks consist of 78 cards: 22 Major Arcana,... Read More
Qohelet had grown old with time when he delivered his... Read More
When the storms in your life are raging, just believe,... Read More
Ever notice how people dread discussing... Read More
on demand house cleaning Arlington Heights ..Jacob had sent his family on across the river Jabbok.... Read More
Life is full of ups and downs, trials, and tribulations.... Read More
Do you ever get into those moods where you just... Read More
As we walk along our paths in life, we will... Read More
Unconditional love means unconditional freedom. Love and freedom are two... Read More
About a month ago I opened up my bible in... Read More
The following fragment was found in Qumran along with the... Read More
We make sense of our world via the senses. The... Read More
Can God really heal your pain? Does every trial come... Read More
Jack Nicholson (Col. Jessup) (marine cornel) YOU CAN'T HANDLE THE... Read More
Hello, My name is Mellody Davis and here is my... Read More
The "Left Behind" series is inspiring, in that it makes... Read More
Because of the bright lights behind me, the golf balls... Read More
"Praise the Lord, O my soul; all my inmost being,... Read More
Listen to the sound of silence. Enjoy the peace and... Read More
It's the most powerful weapon on Earth. It can turn... Read More
Does God care if I marry a gentile?Even as I... Read More
I seemed to have lost my heart. Now this is... Read More
Not a Failure!Those of you who are unemployed, or desire... Read More
I finally went to the dentist today. I had been... Read More
Are you looking for a way to improve your accuracy... Read More
I was walking down the street the other day, walking... Read More
Religion is "absolute truth of life" of the physical manifested... Read More
One important factor in how we go through life is... Read More
(Channelled)I have been trying to ignore this title "A Man... Read More
Spirituality |