Once a boy grows into a man and takes on the heavy responsibilities of a family, home, and job, life gets pretty serious. Having fun is a priority that slips farther down the list, and bits of contentment and peace become the new “good times.” One thing, though, that’s always fun is purchasing a new vehicle.
Today my British relatives had an afternoon of pure fun together as they bought a new red van, at least new to them. During the summer when school teaching is on hiatus, Hans becomes a full time gardener, a business that is flourishing as much as the plants he tends.
He had outgrown his old van long ago and today found the perfect vehicle. It was particularly exciting to 4 year old Nicholas, since this van had originally carried the “Royal Mail” of London.
Nicholas’ has been all about mail since the cartoon “Postman Pat” became his favorite nearly 2 years ago (half a lifetime for him). For his last birthday I put together an official mail bag loaded with colored paper in several sizes, stickers that resembled stamps, a variety of envelopes, pencils, and pens. According to his parents, it’s been a hit.
Hans added a cardboard postal box, and Nicholas has kept busy creating and delivering mail nearly every day. The fact that the new van had been used to haul real mail was like the fulfillment of a fantasy for Nicholas, and he counted the minutes till we all went to pick it up.
Since the van was being driven up from London, Hans arranged to take possession at the local train station so the driver had a way to get back. We arrived 10 minutes before he did, and the children sat on the station wall keeping a lookout for “a red postal van.” When Nicholas saw it, his eyebrows went up and his eyes grew wide.
Best of all, though, was when he noticed the faint outline of the words “Royal Mail” on the side of the van indicating where the letters had once been. But the new van isn’t the only way Royal Mail has been delivered.
God is in the mail business, too. Long ago he delivered the biggest and best parcel ever sent: his Word. Within the package were 66 individual books, each one full of messages from him. And he has continued to prepare and deliver additional items ever since, things like job opportunities, excellent medical care, repaired relationships, new babies, financial rescue, good health, and the most important thing he ever sent, his Son. Without him, God’s life-changing Gospel couldn’t have been delivered to us.
After Hans’ red van arrived home, the children eagerly inspected it, finding treasure in the back: a stash of rubber bands “that used to hold real mail!” Nicholas said.
That may indeed be accurate, but the real Royal Mail came to us by special delivery, many centuries before.
“Royal power belongs to the Lord. He rules all the nations.” (Psalm 22:28)
