The wind threatened to tear the large sign from my hands, but I stood firm, holding my sign tightly and lifting it high, in hopes those driving past would be able to see it and read it. I was standing in the middle of the median with two lanes of traffic on either side of me, going in opposite directions. Other sign holders were across the highway from me, along the side of the road with similar signs. They too were being buffeted by the wind, but we all remained at our posts, believing our message too important to not spend our time here, along this busy stretch of well-traveled road, in order to make our message known.

Now you may be wondering exactly what message it is that our signs were displaying on this fall afternoon. So many possibilities present themselves because at present our world is full of protests, petitioners and picketers, seemingly everywhere we look. And on so many streets in my city, there are those individuals holding out signs asking for money to get them through yet another day. There is no shortage of causes nor of crises for which people have taken to the streets with their homemade signs in hand.

Today something different had brought my friends and myself out with our handmade signs. We were not protesting injustice, nor collecting money for a worthy charity, nor were we attempting to save the planet. (well at least not in the way that you would be thinking relating to environmental causes and such) No, we were not asking for anything. We were giving something away, or at least we were attempting to give something away. That’s right – “give away” means “free” and that’s exactly what our signs said – “Free candy and prayer.”

We were in front of a church with a parking lot accessible from the highway, so all a passing car had to do was to pull off to receive the free candy and be asked if there was anything we could pray for them. As expected, some just wanted the candy. And I should clarify at this point that one could claim the candy and pass on the prayer. Perfectly acceptable. But unexpectedly, there were those that did not want any candy but did want prayer. (and we thought the candy would be the draw) However, in these chaotic and uncertain times, many are feeling their need of God and consequently, are feeling their need of prayer.

What surprised me most though, was that the majority of the cars on the busy highway just drove on by us. Now if we had been selling something, or asking for money, this would not have surprised me at all. But our signs said -“FREE.” Who could pass up the offer of getting something that cost them nothing? Apparently, the majority of people. Have they not bought candy lately? When I purchased candy for this event and some candy so that I will be ready for my neighborhood trick-or-treaters, I experienced the very real sticker shock I hear others talk about. I don’t typically buy candy, so the high prices were unexpected. (although everything else is more expensive these days, so why would candy be the exception?)

Now unlike candy, which always costs something, prayer is free. Well, unless you count “indulgences” – isn’t that what it is called when a person pays the priest money in order to have the priest pray for them? It occurs to me that people are willing to pay for all kinds of things, such as consulting a psychic or their horoscope, having their palm read or their fortune told, consulting tea leaves, crystals or tarot cards – all for a hefty fee; or there are more traditional services, such as seeking the advice of a counselor or entering into therapy, which also can be purchased for a price. That may be the only thing these various services have in common – they all cost money. None of them are free.

However, in these uncertain times people are more than willing to pay for anything they believe will bring them comfort, peace, clarity, wisdom, direction, meaning for their life, and hope – above all we are craving hope in the midst of these difficult days. We want someone to tell us everything is going to turn out all right, and we are willing to pay anyone who will promise us what we desperately want to hear. BUT – no matter how much we pay someone – only God “makes known the end from the beginning, from ancient times, what is still to come.” (Isaiah 46:10)

What we were offering, we were offering for FREE. And still, the majority of the cars sped right past us. I guess they were too busy to stop. Or perhaps they had no need of candy or of prayer. Or maybe they thought anything really worth having could never be free. (isn’t there a saying – “the best things in life are free.”?) Nevertheless, many did not stop to receive what we were offering them for free. Kind of disappointing I thought.

But now I’m thinking that’s how God must feel towards us when we refuse to receive the free gifts He holds out to us, hoping that we will stop, turn to Him and accept what He offers to each one of us without exception. We know that –

“Every good and perfect gift is from above, coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights, who does not change like shifting shadows.” (James 1:17)

God’s gifts to us are perfect because He knows us perfectly and He knows what we need even when we don’t know ourselves. God only gives good gifts because He is only good, He does not change His mood or His mind like we do. These perfectly good gifts to you and to me are free – a gift by definition is free. If we paid for it, it would not be a gift, it would be a purchase. The gifts God longs to bestow upon us are priceless, we could never afford them no matter how great our human wealth. God wants to give you and me more than candy, more than physical riches. In Romans and Ephesians, I read about God’s gift –

“For the wages of sin is death, but the free gift of God is eternal life through Christ Jesus our Lord.” (Romans 6:23)

“For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith – and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God – not by works, so that no one can boast.” (Ephesians 2:8-9)

God’s good and perfect gifts are free – beginning with the gift of His Son, Jesus –

“For God so loved the world that He gave His one and only Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish but have eternal life.” (John 3:16)

“He who did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all – how will He not also, along with Him, graciously give us all things?” (Romans 8:32)

“All things” are exactly what He stands ready to give us – “His mercies are new every morning” – but like the motorists on the highway, we ignore the signs and speed on by, in our hurry to get to – to get to what? Something better than forgiveness of sins and the promise of eternal life? Something better than His peace that passes our understanding? Something better than His abiding Holy Spirit presence which brings us His comfort, healing, wisdom, guidance, joy and hope?

Perhaps we have no idea what we are passing up – until we stop and meet the “Giver of every good gift” in person. God entered into our world in the person of Jesus Christ. There were signs – the Wise Men saw them and so did the shepherds – but most were not interested in the free gift of salvation Jesus came to give and simply kept on living their lives as they had before Jesus’s arrival.

“He came to that which was His own, but His own did not receive Him. Yet to all who received Him, to those who believed in His name, He gave the right to become children of God -” (John 1:11-12)

BUT – those who did receive God’s free gift became His children. And with that privilege comes all the perks of provision, protection and place – a place in God’s eternal Kingdom. That’s quite the free gift, if you ask me!

Our free candy and prayer giveaway is over. BUT – God’s offer still stands! God is holding out His hands to whoever will accept the free gift of eternal life He offers to each one. Jesus has paid our sin price on the cross with His very life. God’s gift now costs us nothing. It cost Him everything. Hopefully, we will pull over, leaving the road we are on in order to accept our Heavenly Father’s good and perfect free gifts –

” ‘Come now, let us reason together,’ says the Lord. ‘Though your sins are like scarlet, they shall be as white as snow; though they are red as crimson, they shall be like wool.’ ” (Isaiah 1:18)

“You open Your hand and satisfy the desires of every living thing.” (Psalm 145:16)

God’s gifts are free for all –

sincerely, Grace Day