A is for ANTIQUES

My friend makes his living through buying and selling antiques. I don't know how he does it, but it works. His shop has been in the village for as long as I can remember and was already a thriving little business when his mum was the sole proprietor and down the years it has lost none of its charm, for there is always a hearty welcome for any prospective customer or friend who drops by. People come from all corners of the province and often further afield to view the merchandise, for the shop is well known and respected amongst the antique buying public. Often, on a Saturday afternoon, cars boasting registration plates alien to the area, rest patiently by the kerb, awaiting the return of a satisfied smile that suggests a successful and sought after purchase. And on those days, when the doors are locked and the showroom slumbers silently, Billy and his white van can be spotted on any number of different roads, seeking out attractive additions for display. Often that search takes them both beyond the shoreline for several days as they delve into the treasures on the mainland and return with something a little bit different, that they know won't stay on display for long.

I have never had a consuming interest in antiques, though I can appreciate the skill, craftsman ship and no little time involved in creating some of the masterpieces I have viewed. And all in an age when machines and computers took a back seat and man's imagination, ideas and learning were transmitted directly through his hands with all the care of handling a new-born baby. Yet, in an age where we are always wanting to have the latest electrical gadget, the software update, next season's fashion, the most recent car registration and the newest holiday destination, we still long for a slice of the past, and will pay to own it. Haven't we realised that it's second-hand at the very least? That's why I've thought of keeping my car for a long , long time, in the hope that it will be eventually classed as an antique and maybe one of my descendants will sell it and claim their fortune, but I doubt it!

When Jesus called his disciples, they had no time to consider their past but left immediately to follow him. Likewise, he also told another prospective follower who wanted time to say goodbye, that, 'No one who puts his hand to the plough and looks back is fit for service in the kingdom of God.' And through his death and the new covenant of his blood, no longer was there any need to look to past sacrifices for cleansing.

I know Billy and his mum have always sold great antiques, but in their pleasant, friendly manner and the quality of their stock, they have always ensured their future, as few customers fail to return again and again. But with God, our future doesn't depend on our past and there's no time like the present to find out.