Qualifications for the Job

Our first SOWER job of the season is Pusch Ridge Christian Academy in Tucson, AZ. On Monday morning my working partner, Bev, and I began our first task.  It was an interesting one--making pieces of paper look old, to be used in a class project as "WANTED" posters. I felt comfortable doing this, as I had once made pirate map invitations for a birthday party.

We actually worked outside, but forgot to take pictures the first time.

The heat gun we used was much more successful than burning the edges with a candle. The classroom teacher was thrilled.  Teachers appreciate someone else doing their time-consuming jobs.

Our next job was shredding.  We searched carefully through piles of resumes and applications of those not hired, to find certain reference letters that our supervisor wanted to keep.  As I flipped through them, I was struck by the applicants' extensive qualifications.  Pages and pages of awards, previous positions, degrees, and other experiences.  What hurt the most was shredding original transcripts, printed on heavy paper, and embossed with the seal of the university that issued them.  Yet they were not needed.  That degree meant nothing in this particular hiring process.  They appeared really impressive, yet these people were not hired.  There was always someone else, evidently, who met the requirements more exactly.  The official transcript ended up as a flash of pink  in the garbage bag of otherwise white shredded paper. By the way, someone in the staff room claimed the paper shreds for a craft project.
This morning made me think about the way we come to faith in God.  Our heavenly father accepts us at face value, through the death of Jesus Christ on the cross.  We don't have to have qualifications and lists of achievements; He accepts us just the way we are.  The only requirement is to come in faith, agree with Him that we need Him, change our direction, and He accepts us into His family. That is the Gospel--Good News.

He saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of His mercy.  Titus 3:5a