Play Ball, Catch Tadpoles and VBS

During the summer, we all see churches advertise Vacation Bible School.  Years ago, VBS was not a summertime option, it was a requirement; a rite of passage your parents took you to.  So it was with me as well.
 
Two miles away from our farm where we lived stood a little, quaint, old country church.  I remember Mom packing a lunch with some juice or water, and then she drove me to that piece of heaven in the country.
 
The first day, I went with trepidation and some fear.  As Mom drove up to the church yard, all my anxiety disappeared.  Coming into view was a baseball field—complete with a backstop.  As a boy, I knew in that moment that God is good!
 
I learned about Jesus, played ball, and at the end of the day it was time to walk home, the whole two miles.  The ditches were full of water and full of tadpoles.  With a little bowl from my lunch, I waded into the water to scoop up my catch to take home to put in the cow tank.  It’s a wonder I didn’t drown in those ditches.  If you’re from Iowa, you know that you don’t drive into the ditch, you fall into it.  In other words, they are steep and deep.
 
At the end of VBS, there was a program.  Some things never change.  I was assigned to be the preacher for the day and I had to memorize Psalm 23.  Ummmm….preacher for the day.  A foreshadow of things to come.
 
So here’s what I learned in VBS:

1. How to play ball;
2. How to walk home;
3. How to catch tadpoles; and
4. How to be sprinkled with the love of Jesus!

Hope I can sprinkle a little Jesus into your life!
 
Blessed and highly favored---just as you are!
Pastor Allan
© 2019 Allan Redenius, All Rights Reserved