Vinegar

"Have you ever tasted vinegar? I mean, plain, sour, yucky vinegar?" These 2 lines were to something that I had a chance to do for what was called 1st Communion. I was in 5th grade at Good Shepherd Lutheran church in Kreidersville PA. All of us in the class got to serve in some way shape or form. For some reason, I chose a children's sermon. See, us Lutherans had a step by step process. In 5th grade, we did 1st Communion. Through 7th-9th grade, we did confirmation/catechetical classes. In 9th grade we were "confirmed" as members of the church. And if you were bored with the whole church thing by that point, in 10th grade, you went when you wanted to go. There was no reason to go to church. At least, that's how I saw it. The people I went through those years with for the most part I have lost track of with one exception. And even that person,thanks to Facebook, I've made a few connections with but not anything deep. I was wanting to dig out the "confirmation" picture out and scan it and post it but to dig that out of the vortex that is the closet in my house is going to be a project where I have nothing better to do with my day. But, back to Vinegar. I had listened to the tape again and thought, this needs to be transferred to a CD so I never lose this precious memory. So, I gave it to a good friend who has a studio in his basement and he converted it from tape to CD. I listened again and thought, wow, this is REALLY good. It talks about how vinegar, by itself, tastes pretty nasty. But, when you realize that pickles are made with vinegar and that vinegar is an ingredient to a lot of things, it's not so bad. When living the Christian life, there are many components to it. It says in the Bible we are to rejoice in our sufferings. Who wants to rejoice in our sufferings? Job didn't. I'm sure Jesus didn't enjoy the beatings He took. The disciples as they faced horrible deaths. I know in my own life I didn't enjoy the fact that my life was going down the toilet and I was there with the plunger forcing it down taking other people with me. But God has given me reason to rejoice knowing that He was there with me. He hurt along with me and He comforted me and showed me Himself. I pray that for the people I have hurt, that Jesus will come along and comfort those. Now, I can rejoice in the fact that Jesus died on the Cross and rose from the dead three days later. I can rejoice that He lives inside of me! That I can take this life, as scarred up as it is, and through the story that God has given me, and show the world that Christ lives in me. I anxiously await the day when I meet Jesus face to face and I fall on my knees and worship at His feet. I have no clue when that day is but while I'm here, I pray that my life is a representation of Him.