enveloped

When I am performing magical illusions I sometimes need a small envelope in which to put a playing card so that it’s hidden from sight and to reassure my audience that I can’t get to it to do any sneaky stuff. You can buy envelopes which are the right size. But the cheap ones look, well, cheap and the expensive-looking ones are, well, expensive.

So a while back I invested in an envelope punch board that enables me to make envelopes of many different sizes using my own preferred card. As long as you start with the correct size of card (as per the chart in the photo below) you’ll end up with a final result that looks a bit like the ‘final result’ in the photo below. You simply then fold in the sides and bottom, apply a small amount of glue in an inconspicuous place and ‘hey presto’ you have an envelope.

It’s actually quite relaxing making envelopes so I usually cut a few pieces of card to the correct size and then work my way through them systematically. In terms of stationery it’s near the top of the more relaxing tasks… not as relaxing as laminating, obviously, but getting there.

If you look closely at the photo (at the board, not the person holding it) you’ll notice that the chart is stuck onto it. That’s because the printed chart that’s on the board is inaccurate, so they supplied a sticker to cover it with the correct sizes. Which is helpful. Except that I find that the measurements of card size for an envelope to contain a playing card is not what I need. If I follow the chart I end up with a very long envelope that’s definitely not the right size and shape for my needs. I had to experiment with different sizes and settings before I found, through trial and error, the ideal measurements, and then I had to remember them for future use.

What’s the point of this stationery tale? Is it going anywhere or is it just stationary?

Well, other than giving me an excuse to make a cute pun, it reminds me that there is not a ‘one size fits all’ approach to life for us. What works for one person may not work for another. The Christian faith has sometimes been presented as a ‘one size fits all’ solution to life: put your faith in Jesus and everything will be okay.

Except it’s not, is it? I put my faith in Jesus aged 6. At the age of 6 I could probably accept the idea that putting my faith in Jesus would make everything okay. But at the age of 59 I know that’s not true. While there have been plenty of blessings and I don’t regret putting my faith in Jesus at all, there have also been difficulties – including chronic migraine and two open heart surgeries. If I said to people that everything will be okay if they follow Jesus I’d be a hypocrite and a liar.

Jesus never claims that for his followers. In fact he says the opposite – following him is tough, dangerous and may even mean giving up your life. But he does promise to be with us always and gives us the Spirit of God so that we can experience God directly in our life.

Jesus doesn’t have a ‘one size fits all’ answer to life. That would be the sort of thing a naive 6 year old would expect. Instead he offers lots of other promises.

He does promise that we are loved with an everlasting, unconditional love.

He does promise that those who follow him will experience ‘life in all its fullness’ (which in my view includes the tough stuff).

He does promise that our prayers are heard and cherished.

He does promise that he is the way to God, the truth about God and the life in God.

Have I ever regretted that decision I made when I was a naive 6 year old? No. Not even in the darkest of days because I know with the certainty of faith (yes, an oxymoron) that he is for me, with me, in me, before me, beneath me and that my life is more fulfilled and has an eternal dimension that only he can offer. The details we work out together, sometimes by trial and error, and I try to remember what I have learnt.

Be blessed, be a blessing