What a trip...

A young man had a dream to leave his homeland of war and poverty to go to America to make a new life. A dear friend knew this and as his dying gift had given him enough to buy a boat ticket to go to America.

Excitedly he wrapped up everything he had, including a loaf of bread and some cheese, in his blanket and boarded the ship. He slept in empty places around the ship that he could find, usually very loud places near the engine room or up on the deck of the ship. He ate his bread and cheese, even as they molded. After several days of the journey, the young man ran out of what little food he had, and he began to go hungry. He reminded himself he needed only to survive a few more days of the journey and then he would enjoy all the riches that America promised.

Starving and tired, on the last night of his journey, the young man found a secluded corner of the deck to lay down and rest. One of the ship's crew saw him and confronted him accusing him of being a stowaway. The young man reached in his coat and pulled out his ticket. The crew member apologized and asked "but why are you sleeping here on deck instead of in your quarters ?” When the young man replied that he had only enough money for the passage, the steward explained that the room was included in the price of the ticket. 

As the steward led the astonished young man to his room, they passed a large dining room where a wonderful meal of every food imaginable was being laid out. The young man, starving with hunger, stood in the doorway looking at all the food with very large eyes. He begged the steward could he please just take a roll and maybe some cheese, he was so very hungry. The steward told the young man that he could take a seat for dinner and eat as much as he like, as that had also been included in the price of his ticket.

Too often in the Christian life, we believe we only have a ticket for the passage to our destination and not the many blessings that are included in the journey. We look forward to our arrival at a place where our needs will be no more, but we are ignorant of so much that is available to us, even now. Starving ourselves spiritually and with no place of rest for our soul, we take what little we think we deserve even though the full price is paid and has always included all that we need and more. Don't wait till the end of the journey to realize the blessings that are included.

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us in the heavenly realms with every spiritual blessing in Christ.” Ephesians 1:3


{This is not my own.   I have only adapted it from several versions I've heard.  If I knew who to attribute it to I would.}