Like Taking Candy

His foot pressed the gas and his heart rate accelerated. The casino was getting closer and this was going to be the big day, the day when he finally hit the big one. The excitement built with each mile. It became almost too much to bear.

“This must be how it feels to be on the verge of the big one!”

The arrival of the big day was not a moment too soon. There were creditors, friends, and family who wanted payment. But they were just burdensome reminders of previous trips. Those trips ended with empty pockets and an empty gas tank. There was even this strange rush of excitement that accompanied the risk of running the car on fumes those last few miles home.

This trip was different. He wouldn’t be standing at the ATM, watching the seconds tick by so he could withdraw the last of the money from his account as soon as a new banking day began and his daily limit was once again available. No. This time he would be heading home with enough money to satisfy everyone with their hand out. This time he was going to experience the riches he deserved. This time was the big one.

The drive home was a long one. The eyes are heavy at 4:30 AM. The headlights from people on their way to “the big one” made him so sleepy he decided to pull over on the shoulder behind a tractor trailer for a little sleep. The nap helped, but he awoke to the realization that all his money was at the casino. All of it. Even those twenty dollar bills he kept in the back of his wallet in case of emergency.

“Well, maybe next time will be the big one. No, no, there will never be a next time! God, please get me out of this bondage!”

He checked his watch and realized that unless the traffic was unusually heavy for a Sunday morning, he could get back just in time for church. He arrived just in time and slid into his normal seat on the end of the pew near the back.

He tried to pay attention, he really did. But this kid sitting in front of him had a stick of candy in his mouth. “Does this kid not realize that you are not supposed to eat candy in church?” He endured it as long as he could and finally reached over the back of the pew and jerked the sticky treat out of the startled kid’s mouth.

As he walked toward the bathroom to dispose of the candy and wash his hands tears began to streak his face. He realized that his life was so out of control that he was trying to make himself feel better by correcting someone else. And he remembered the words of Jesus, "Why do you look at the speck of sawdust in your brother's eye and pay no attention to the plank in your own eye” (Matthew 7:3)?

Feel like taking away someone’s candy?

Maybe it’s time check for planks.

— Bob Clark

11/15/04