3 minute read
ONE SIZE FITS ALL
Monthly Devotional
Back in 2004, a group of us climbed on our bikes for a 5000-mile round trip run to New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Our goal was to visit some seaside fishing villages, check out a few lighthouses, and eat some good food, but the main focus of our journey was to ride the famous 186-mile Cabot Trail.
Advertisement
On a Thursday afternoon, six riders left Greenwood, S.C. in the rain with the hope of getting through Charlotte before stopping for the night. Loaded down with the normal necessities for twelve days away from home, we also carried tents and camping gear. The plan was to catch hotels until we arrived in Canada and then camp for the week at different locations.
The Bar Harbor, Maine ferry dropped us in Yarmouth Nova Scotia where we unstrapped our bikes, climbed on, and headed out for Halifax. After an amazing supper of pan-fried haddock and the fixin’s, at a small restaurant in Halifax, we were again on the road toward Truro and a campground for the night.
By the time we had our tents and sleeping bags set up, sunlight was giving way to darkness. Settling in for the evening, we discussed the past four days, and plans for the next morning.
I was the first to hit the shower facilities that night. I grabbed my clothes, toiletries, and trucked off in the direction of the shower house. Upon arrival, I picked out a shower stall and that was when I noticed something that was totally foreign to me. A little metal box similar to those on a vending machine with a slot in the top, was attached to the wall in the shower stall. On the front of the box was a decal that read “Please deposit twenty-five cents for three minutes of water.” Really? I dug in my pockets, produced three American quarters, and figured I would give those a try.
It worked.
The way to do this is to start by putting a quarter in the slot for the initial three minutes of water to get yourself good and soapy. Then, put another quarter in for the three-minute rinse. Simple and efficient! I was done in less than 10 minutes and had only spent fifty cents. I still had one quarter to spare. Bill on the other hand, was a large man… He probably weighed around 300 pounds back then… After I returned from the shower facility and explained the situation with the water for a quarter, he grabbed his stuff and struck out in the direction of the showers. The rest of us were sitting around the fire swapping stories, drinking coffee, and having a good time when Bill returned. He had a towel around his waist, shampoo in his hair, and soap in his eyes. Looking angry, he was mumbling to himself as he began digging around in his bag for something.
“Hey Bill what’s up?” I asked. To which he responded, “I need more money! I can barely turn around in that stinkin’ stall! When a man can’t take a shower with $5.50 worth of quarters, he needs to lose weight!!”
We all busted out laughing as he stomped back into the night to finish his shower. I looked over at my friend Mark and said, “I guess it’s not one size fits all.”
While many companies advertise their products are “one size fits all,” that is rarely the case. Most of the time, the ball cap that says “one size fits all” is too small for my fat head, and the gloves with the same claim usually hang off the end of my fingers. There is one place however where the “one size fits all” rule is in place, and it is absolutely true. The Gospel of Jesus.
According to scripture, no sin is too small or too big for Jesus to forgive. You may have had a squeakyclean life where you never drank, did drugs, or run around on your spouse, and then there are others who have done all of the above. Either way, Jesus is ready and willing to take away your sin with a “one size fits all” plan of salvation! No matter how bad your life has been, there is hope for tomorrow!
Romans 3:23-24 For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, and we are justified freely by His grace through the redemption that came by Jesus Christ.
Shine that light!
Ride on and stay safe, Dennis Reynolds
Mideast Regional Elder
