by: Rev. James L. Snyder

I have, in my opinion, the world's perfect job. Just look at the evidence. I love people and I love God. I love talking to people about God and I love talking to God about people.

Therefore, if you put these two together, I am doing what I love doing: the greatest job in the world.

I must confess, however, this was not always the case. When I wore a younger man's suit, I had different ideas about what would be the greatest job in the world for me.

Nowhere on that short list did being a pastor appear. God, sometimes, displays a marvelous sense of humor in selecting people for his service. I am the supreme example.

The apostle Paul writes, "But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty;" (1 Corinthians 1:27 KJV.)

As a young person, I thought only one job would be the greatest job in the world. In my mind, I aspired to this fabulous career often fantasizing about how great it would be to spend all my time in this job.

The greatest job in the world to me at that time was being a Snow Cone Man. Nothing compared, in my estimation, to the Snow Cone Man.

I was not alone in my aspirations. Most of my pals at the time harbored similar vocational goals. No person in our lives at the time was as exciting as the Snow Cone Man.

The SCM came down our street three times a week, without fail, much to our delight. This, of course, was during our summer vacation when we were out of school and had plenty of time on our hands.

Perhaps, in our small town, with nothing to really interest or excite us, the Snow Cone Man was the one thing we had to look forward to. Regardless, we believed he had the greatest job in the world.

For one, he rode the coolest motorcycle vehicle I have ever seen — a three-wheel motorcycle, with a large compartment on the back, containing all the snow cone accoutrements. I don't know if it was the motorcycle or the cargo that fascinated us. Your guess is probably the right one.

Also, he wore a nifty white suit with a fabulous hat. At the time, I would have given anything for a hat like his. It was often the topic of our discussion when he left us to our snow cone treats.

One thing was sure, everybody loved him. He sold those snow cones for 5 cents each. What a bargain. The icy treat was a paper cone piled high with crushed ice and then flavored with your choice of strawberry, raspberry, lemon, lime syrup, but my all-time favorite was root beer.

On a hot day in August, there was nothing cooler than a root beer snow cone from the SCM. Moreover, the best part of it was, it only cost a nickel. Of course, a nickel was sometimes hard to come by.

I well remember one day when I didn't have a nickel. I don't remember the reason, but I was being punished for some naughtiness on my part, and my mother would not give me the coveted nickel.

Time came for the Snow Cone Man to come down our street and he stopped right in front of our house. Like a snowstorm in Vermont, kids descended upon him from all over the place to get their daily snow cone.

I looked on, through teary eyes, regretting whatever I did to deprive myself of one of the greatest pleasures in life.

One by one, the kids melted away as they got their snow cones and soon he was all alone. I just hated to see him go. He was ready to start his motorcycle when he looked up and saw me sitting on the porch.

"Hey, Jimmy, don't you want a snow cone today?"

"Hain't got no nickel," I sobbed.

"Come on down," he called back. "You can use one of my nickels today."

Leaping off the porch and smearing tears from my face, I went to him for my snow cone. When I got there he pressed a nickel into my trembling hand and asked, "Now, which flavor do you want? Don't tell me. Root beer, right?"

Root beer was more than all right for me.

As I exchanged his nickel for my root beer snow cone, I could not speak for fear the effort would distract from the smile, which had taken my face by storm. It was the best root beer snow cone I ever had.

Watching him drive away, I thought to myself, that's the greatest job in the world.

More than 40 years separate me from that childhood memory. Looking back, I smile when I realize I have, today, the greatest job in the world.

What could be greater than helping people receive from God what they can't afford. God's marvelous grace is for all who, for one reason or another, do not have the needed "nickel."

Upon further reflection, a verse from the Old Testament came to mind. "Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the waters, and he that hath no money; come ye, buy, and eat; yea, come, buy wine and milk without money and without price." Isaiah 55:1 KJV.)

No matter how much money a person thinks he or she has, they are always one nickel short of God's grace.