Lent Devotional 6

Jane and I have always enjoyed a good yard sale, flea market, or antique show. Early in our marriage our motto of “why buy something, when used will do” was an economic reality. Now we enjoy finding that treasure amongst the junk. 

Early in my ministry I was the Director of Youth Ministries for the Annual Conference. I averaged 3plus weekends a month away from home. Monday was my day off and as often as possible Jane and I would go to the Webster Flea Market. We would load the kids in their strollers and start looking.

I remember a particular Monday when under the trees I found a most intriguing object. It was a wooden box that was covered in black lacquer. Someone had glued a golden wood cross on the top of the box. Above the cross were white plastic letters which said “Open or” and below the cross were the words “Go to Hell”.

What would you do? Well I had to see what was inside. I opened the box and inside was a paperback Good News for Modern Man New Testament carefully tied together with a white ribbon. I looked and did not buy. But I did remember.

I am currently looking at a copy of the Good News for Modern Man New Testament that College Heights UMC gave to me when I graduated from High School. It has a rubber band that holds it together and I seldom read it because of its condition. But I remember it as the first Bible that I ever read which was “readable”. The language was familiar and had meaning to me. I carried that Bible as a summer camp counselor, a college student, and as a seminarian. I would be less than honest to say I would read it regularly, but there were times when I needed clarity and this little New Testament helped me understand.

As I look back on that day at Webster what once seemed like a piece of subtle humor now has a more serious side. The question is do I get it.

Have a great day and

SHALOM,

Tom Mc