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Cal's Pastoral Epistles
Recognizing the Source
May 17, 2005
Dear friends,
I love ice cream. I have been eating it since I was a little boy. I think I
learned to appreciate it from my father. He taught me how to eat it right
out of the carton when I was about six years old. I have passed on the
love of ice cream to my three daughters. My father says it is something in
the "Lord" blood. He may be right. When the kids were little we would
often go to Friendly's to have an ice cream cone. When money was tight,
we would pick up a half gallon and a box of cones and make them
ourselves. One night I came downstairs and I saw my youngest daughter
standing at the door of the freezer with a box of ice cream and a spoon.
That really brought me back. I wonder who she learned that from?
Our favorite ice cream spot nowadays is Buttonwood Farms out in
Voluntown. As spring turns to summer the girls will often ask if we can go
for a drive in the country to get an ice cream cone. I have to laugh because
I was a country boy and we went to the city to get our ice cream. My kids
are city kids and we take the delightful ride into the country to indulge
ourselves. Buttonwoods is out in the middle of nowhere. It is surrounded
by corn fields and lots of open farmland. I'll never forget the first time we
went there. As we got out of the car we were greeted with the
overwhelming smell of cow manure. It was a vivid reminder that what we
were going to delight in was truly fresh from the farm.
I thought about that the other night as we were sitting on a bench at
Buttonwoods eating our ice cream. It is easy to forget that ice cream is a
dairy product that comes from cows. We pick it up prepackaged from the
freezer at the grocery store or scooped out of a cardboard carton at an ice
cream shop. There is a disconnect between the source and the way it is
delivered to us so we fail to recognize the true wellspring of our delight.
That same thing happens with God and many of the good things we enjoy.
These blessings seem to come to us from out of our every day
experiences. We have a bit of unexpected good luck and we immediately
associate it with "being in the right place at the right time." When we are in
the midst of a memorable time, we congratulate ourselves for making the
right choices. When a windfall drops in our lap we pat ourselves on the
back for being so resourceful. Before long we begin to think that every
good thing we have in our lives came from our own hard work.
The truth is that scripture reminds us that all good things come from God.
Whenever something good occurs in our lives, it is because God has shed
his grace on us. Think about the last time you enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
Did you thank God? When was the last time you looked at your children
and thought about how God had blessed you? If you live in a nice home or
drive a nice car or have a good friend, then God has been wonderful to
you. If you have good health and a decent job to go to each day, then you
have a reason to praise Him.
When we are able to connect the source of our good fortune with the gift,
it tastes that much sweeter. I know it works for Buttonwoods. Their farm
fresh ice cream tastes so delicious. I believe part of that is due to the fact
that they remind everyone where it comes from. So give thanks to God
and enjoy the blessings He has given you, even if it happens to be a dish of
ice cream.
God bless! See you in Church. Cal.
May 17, 2005
Dear friends,
I love ice cream. I have been eating it since I was a little boy. I think I
learned to appreciate it from my father. He taught me how to eat it right
out of the carton when I was about six years old. I have passed on the
love of ice cream to my three daughters. My father says it is something in
the "Lord" blood. He may be right. When the kids were little we would
often go to Friendly's to have an ice cream cone. When money was tight,
we would pick up a half gallon and a box of cones and make them
ourselves. One night I came downstairs and I saw my youngest daughter
standing at the door of the freezer with a box of ice cream and a spoon.
That really brought me back. I wonder who she learned that from?
Our favorite ice cream spot nowadays is Buttonwood Farms out in
Voluntown. As spring turns to summer the girls will often ask if we can go
for a drive in the country to get an ice cream cone. I have to laugh because
I was a country boy and we went to the city to get our ice cream. My kids
are city kids and we take the delightful ride into the country to indulge
ourselves. Buttonwoods is out in the middle of nowhere. It is surrounded
by corn fields and lots of open farmland. I'll never forget the first time we
went there. As we got out of the car we were greeted with the
overwhelming smell of cow manure. It was a vivid reminder that what we
were going to delight in was truly fresh from the farm.
I thought about that the other night as we were sitting on a bench at
Buttonwoods eating our ice cream. It is easy to forget that ice cream is a
dairy product that comes from cows. We pick it up prepackaged from the
freezer at the grocery store or scooped out of a cardboard carton at an ice
cream shop. There is a disconnect between the source and the way it is
delivered to us so we fail to recognize the true wellspring of our delight.
That same thing happens with God and many of the good things we enjoy.
These blessings seem to come to us from out of our every day
experiences. We have a bit of unexpected good luck and we immediately
associate it with "being in the right place at the right time." When we are in
the midst of a memorable time, we congratulate ourselves for making the
right choices. When a windfall drops in our lap we pat ourselves on the
back for being so resourceful. Before long we begin to think that every
good thing we have in our lives came from our own hard work.
The truth is that scripture reminds us that all good things come from God.
Whenever something good occurs in our lives, it is because God has shed
his grace on us. Think about the last time you enjoyed a beautiful sunset.
Did you thank God? When was the last time you looked at your children
and thought about how God had blessed you? If you live in a nice home or
drive a nice car or have a good friend, then God has been wonderful to
you. If you have good health and a decent job to go to each day, then you
have a reason to praise Him.
When we are able to connect the source of our good fortune with the gift,
it tastes that much sweeter. I know it works for Buttonwoods. Their farm
fresh ice cream tastes so delicious. I believe part of that is due to the fact
that they remind everyone where it comes from. So give thanks to God
and enjoy the blessings He has given you, even if it happens to be a dish of
ice cream.
God bless! See you in Church. Cal.
Pastor Cal Lord writes these weekly epistles to
help us see God in every day things.
help us see God in every day things.
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