It Doesn’t Stop!

Yesterday…

…I was reminded of an old inappropriate joke:

A minister, famous for preaching long-winded sermons, went to his dentist for a new set of false teeth.

The next Sunday he was in discomfort; his sermon only lasted six minutes. The following week wasn’t much better; his new ill-fitting teeth restricted his sermon to eight minutes.

The next week he seemed more at ease… He was still preaching after half-an-hour… an hour… two hours and he was still going strong! Eventually, after two-and-a half hours he explained to his puzzled congregation. ‘I thought I’d borrow my wife’s teeth. With them in my mouth I couldn’t stop!’

…I heard from Jack. After years of addiction, he’s proud to be a hundred days clean. I’ve known Jack since he was a boy. Jack and his family have been through some tough times. Now he says: ‘Any day sober beats any day in addiction… recovery is possible… put your drugs down, pick your Bibles up…’

For a long time, his addiction didn’t stop. Now he hopes and prays that being clean doesn’t stop. So does his family!

…I was reminded of the ‘Object’ of the Boys Brigade. When we had a church Boys Brigade Company, we heard it recited: ‘The promotion of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that leads to true Christian manliness’. It’s not the sort of words that Jack would use, but it’s the same principle: a consistency of character and lifestyle that doesn’t stop.

…I listened to a discussion about the word ‘honeymoon’. Some believe that newly married couples were given enough mead – alcoholic honey – to last for a month (one moon). Is the love and affection after a couple are married moon-related… waxing and waning?

The traditional marriage vows ‘to have and to hold, for better, for worse, for richer, for poorer, in sickness and in health, till death do us part’ is about lifelong love, commitment and faithfulness.

Musing… It doesn’t stop… the minister’s wife… Jack’s sobriety… Christian character… loving marriage.