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239 West Main Street Norwich, Connecticut                Phone: 860-889-0369
Cal's Pastoral Epistles

                 Gifts from God

                                                                              April 27, 2005

Dear friends,

I love free stuff. It comes like a blessing from heaven. When I was a
kid I used to pester my parents into buying the cereal with the free
toy inside.  It didn't matter what it was. The only criteria I used was
that it was free. As I got older I became more creative. I found out
you could earn prizes by collecting box tops. Sometimes I would cut
the top off even before the cereal was gone. My parents must have
thought I was a little off my rocker.

I have to confess that I still look for bargains but I don't go out of
my way to get them anymore. Life has become too busy. I have also
realized that there is a cost to free stuff. It's either time, energy or
something far more subtle. For example, I've given up buying value
meals since I've been going to Weight Watchers. Those "free"
french fries end up costing me in terms of my weight. So I have
become a little more judicious in reaching for the freebies.
None-the-less, I am still a pushover when they fall into my lap.

I had to go to Staples yesterday and I wasn't really up for it.  We had
a lot to do in the office and I was a little frazzled around the edges. I
was primed for a serendipitous moment. As I stood at the register
ready to check out, the cashier said. "This is your lucky day."  He
went on to explain that I could save $10 by buying a combo-pak of
the printer ink I had chosen. Then he promptly left the register to
get it for me. That was cool! As he finished ringing up my order he
said, "I have more good news for you. You qualify for a case of
bottled water with your purchase today." It was my lucky day. More
free stuff!

I have to tell you that I left the store feeling pretty high. I went in
there feeling a little down and out and came away feeling blessed. I
hadn't done a thing but walk in the door. I had to chuckle because it
reminded me of the grace we receive from God every day. I started
thinking about the fact that God loves us so much that He wants to
offer us a blessing. It's a free gift and all we need to do is open our
hearts to Him.

Once you open up to God, His blessings start falling all around you. I
like to look for them in every day things. That's why I stopped to
thank God for the "free" bottled water. In the midst of my
frustrations I believe God was sending me a message to remind me
that He, the living water, was right beside me. So the next time you
find yourself feeling all alone and a little lost, try counting your
blessings. You will undoubtedly see the hand of God upon your life.
It won't be long before you feel God at your side and things will turn
around.

God bless.  See you in Church.  Cal
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
Archived epistles