In 1968, when I was 8 years old, my family lived in San Antonio, Texas. My elementary school was a short 15-minute walk from our back door. Or if one or several things captured my attention along the way, that walk could take near an hour. But on my Schwinn Stingray, with banana seat and high-rise handlebars, I could cover that distance in an instant. One day a school chum and I decided to ride to his house after school. Finding (mis)adventure on our bikes was never difficult. On this particular day, we arrived at his house, furiously peddled onto his front lawn–the last ten feet balancing on one side of our bikes–then expertly stepped off, allowing our riderless bikes to crash into the neighbor’s hedge. It was a hot afternoon, and the garage was open. The cool dimness of the garage beckoned. After my eyes adjusted, I could see jars filled with dark green liquid lining the walls. Peering through the murk I could just make out plant sprigs, seeds, and leaves. My curiosity captured I drew close for a better look. “My mom makes those,” David said. “They’re dill pickles.” We looked at each other for a mere split-second before we each grabbed a jar. We spun those lids off, releasing the sharp, spicy aroma like a genie from a bottle. The savory, salty, crunch of that first pickle was intoxicating and led to a second, third, and fourth, in rapid succession. The old saying “what goes up, must come down” is a physical law, so too is, “what goes in, must come out’–insert your own mental image.

After many months of covid restrictions, the prospect of masks coming off and restrictions diminishing, we all want to devour the freedoms denied to us so long like my younger self and my friend devoured those dill pickles. But let’s take it easy and use some common sense as we spin the lids from our lives. Heed the words of Galatians 5:22-23, be considerate of others, and exercise self-control. “But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control. Against such there is no law.”

Ever thought about missionary life? SGSP Aviation Ministries, Inc is looking for volunteers and/or missionaries gifted in administration, communication, and aviation. If you would like to use your gifting to build the Kingdom of God by serving from home or the mission field of Guatemala, let’s talk. See our blog at www.sgsp-aviation.org or email admin@sgsp-aviation.org

Serving God by Serving His People (SGSP) Aviation Ministries, Inc. is a 501.c.3 public charity.