Tag Archives: trust

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Cause I've got a golden ticket

I've got a golden chance to make my way

And with a golden ticket it's a golden day

 

Anyone remember this movie?

Perhaps you've seen Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory; more recently titled Charlie and the Chocolate Factory.  A movie which was made in the early seventies and remade several years ago. The movie, though I've watched it quite a few times creeps me out.  There's a darkness present even though the theme is based on a misfortunate young boy named Charlie having the chance to make his dream come true.

If you haven't had the opportunity to see it or need a refresher, the main character is Charlie who lives with his widowed mother and four elderly grandparents who he helps care for.  Great news to Charlie and every other child in the world is that a well-known candy maker has hidden five golden tickets inside his candy bars.  The lucky ticket finders are promised a tour through Wonka's factory and a life-time supply of chocolate . Four of the winners are unbalanced children with specific behavior problems such as gluttony, being spoiled, lacking manners and and being obsessed with television.  I can only speak for myself and my family but I know that we have all suffered a touch of these issues.  Golden ticket holder number five?  You guessed it; sweet young Charlie.  To sail through most of the movie (you'll have to watch it) each character is lead by their misconduct to their doom unable to finish the tour; dropped from the story.  Charlie and his grandpa also break the factory rules at one point by sneaking into the Fizzy Lifting Soda room.  To grandpa and Charlie's dismay Wonka reveals that because they broke the rules he is disqualified from his lifetime supply of chocolate.   His grandfather remembers that a sly candy maker had approached Charlie early in the story requesting a gobstopper so that he could recreate the recipe promising them riches in return. Grandpa encourages Charlie to get revenge on Wonka by finding then giving the mysterious man the much coveted gobstopper. Charlie refuses and returns to Wonka the gobstopper given to him earlier in the story redeeming his character by doing the right thing even though he felt cheated.

Do you get the feeling we represent every ticket holder in the story?  I know I have my golden dream.  The characters in the story were given the factory tour promised.  But it wasn't enough. You find each character wanting more. They ignore the rules and warnings given by the factory owner.   After all, the golden ticket giver couldn't possibly make possible their golden dream.  They know what they really want.  The children are seen in all kinds of self- indulging behaviors such as gulping from an off-limits chocolate river and popping an experimental three-course dinner gum ball.  Each character never feels quite satisfied.

Charlie gives up his golden dream (the dream to be rich) as he returns the gobstopper to Wonka.   Wonka tells Charlie he has passed the test. He has forfeited HIS golden dream unbeknownst that Mr. Wonka has something much better in store.  Charlie will not only get his lifetime supply of chocolate but will also inherit the entire factory.

This reminds me of Solomon when God basically promises him his golden dream (1 kings 3:5).  God tells Solomon "Ask for whatever you want me to give you".  Solomon, reminded of God's great kindness, asks for a discerning heart.  God hands Solomon a golden ticket and Solomon gives it right back.

He doesn't ask for a new car.

He doesn't ask for the newest version of the iPhone.

He doesn't ask for riches or a Disney vacation.

He asks for the gift- to keep giving.  He wants God to enable him to serve the people knowing that's what God has called him to do.  That's novel don't you think: trusting the one who has given us all that we already have.  We each have a golden ticket at our fingertips. We can clutch it and selfishly pursue our own golden dream (pleasure), but no doubt will find ourselves dissatisfied. Or we can redeem that golden ticket by placing it back in the hands of the one who promises us an inheritance that far outshines any golden dream we have for ourselves

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 Well, yesterday I went to the dentist.  Even the word dentist makes me nervous.  I’m not exactly sure why I have such a dislike for going to the dentist because it usually ends up not being as bad as I imagined.  In fact, most visits I’ve made were pretty much pain-free.  The dentist who checked my teeth and the lady who cleaned my teeth were super friendly.  I thought they could tell I was one of those patients that needed some calm reassurance.  I’ve wondered before if the folder they have with my name and dental record has a brightly colored sticker on front warning- “special (hard to work with) patient”!  Am I the only one who feels this way?

     I brushed my teeth twice as long and flossed extra good in the morning.  I wanted to make sure my teeth looked dazzling.  I also wanted to ensure that there wasn’t much work that they would have to do.  I ‘m a pretty good girl.  I brush and floss daily though I doubt I’d get an “A+” on my teeth care report card.  Truth be known, I don’t brush after every meal.  And even though I make sure and brush the front and back, down low and every gum line, it doesn’t make up for the times that I don’t brush.  I should also mention that I didn’t go to the dentist for six years.   So, in some ways I’m doing great, in other ways-UTTER FAILURE!

      While I was lying back in the dentist chair I tried to distract myself.  I could see the giant metal hook scraping my teeth moving back and forth.  (It’s easy to notice when it’s right between your eyes!).  So I tried closing my eyes, but the sound has got to be just as bad.  It equals nails scratching a chalkboard.  I had decided at this time I should try and think about how even this moment was in God’s hands.  And immediately I began to think about sin.  Yes, sin.  You see plaque, the sticky film that forms on our teeth naturally, is bad for our teeth.  It can harden and cause tooth decay and gum disease.  While we can brush and floss, it is necessary to go the dentist regularly to have it removed.  And like sin, plaque can be hidden in places where we don’t see it.  It often takes a professional to see the “plaque” and remove it.  Though my mouth is often tender after having my teeth cleaned, I know that my hygienist is preventing bigger problems in the future.  Likewise, when God is helping us rid ourselves of some sin in our life it may be uncomfortable.  I can think of a particular time growing up I was caught in a lie.  My cousin and I were cleaning my aunt’s living room with a friend.  While vacuuming I stepped on a lamp cord and my aunt’s beautiful glass lamp hit the floor shattering into pieces.  My friend saw what happened, but blamed my cousin.  That lie worked in my favor so I went along with the story that it was my cousin’s fault.  My aunt knew we were lying and sent us home.  That was so embarrassing!  Looking back, I know that it was a good thing that I was caught in that lie. It hurt my aunt and my cousin and maybe even my friend who knew I was a Christian. Would I have even thought twice about that lie had my aunt not revealed it?   Even more sad are the hidden sins I’ve committed; sins I’ve held onto with an exhausting grip.  Like plaque that hides beneath the surface, sin quietly grows and eats away at our peace.  God wants us to have peace. And though sometimes the process is uncomfortable he offers to clean up our “sticky” situations.

  Even as a child you know the rules.  Don’t lie.  Be kind.  Don’t be jealous.  And most of the time I bet you follow the rules pretty well.  Does it seem like the one time you break a rule there is an adult there to catch you?  You heard me say catch right?  When you’ve done something wrong it’s easy to feel like an animal caught in a net with nowhere to run.  I want you to picture getting caught differently.  Picture someone falling from a height with nowhere to go but down.  That person wants to be caught.  God has put our parents and other adults in our life as our safety net.  They are in our life and in our business to help us rid ourselves of what isn’t good for us.  You’re fighting with your sister and your parents get on to you?  Just maybe they’re thinking of what’s best for you. (Thank you mom and dad!). Next time I go to the dentist and they’re in my face and in my space I intend to grin and bear it.  And when I have a beautiful smile to show for it, I will remember the ones who patiently worked with me and be thankful. 

1.Can you remember a time when you were caught doing wrong?

How did it make you feel?  Angry?  Guilty?  Sad?  Disappointed?  Mistreated?

 

2. Who are some people God has placed in your life to guide you and correct you?

 

Listen to this prayer and say amen if you agree.

 

Dear God,

We know that we are not perfect.  And we know that there is no perfect adult.  But we know that you have placed adults in our lives to guide us.  Help our moms and dads, grandparents and teachers, coaches and other adults to listen and trust you so they will be able to lead us to you.  Even when adults seem unfair, help us to be obedient.  Help us to know that you will bless our faithfulness to obey.  And help us to always remember that you want every part of us; good and bad.  There is nothing that we should hide from our parents.  And there is nothing we could hide from you.  Most of all, help us remember that by knowing you “neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of (you) God”

 (Romans 8:39)

Amen.