What’s the greatest three minutes of your life? What an interesting question to consider and after almost thirty years of marriage to an incredible lady and the blessing of two wonderful children, many memorable moments come to my mind. Our wedding day, watching the birth of our children, great family times together; but if I allow myself to go back just a little bit further, the answer is easy. It’s June of 1972 and I’m twelve years old sitting at my school desk. The bell is about to ring and the feeling inside is so overwhelming I can hardly contain myself. It finally rings and the only thing racing through my mind is – SCHOOL’S OUT FOR SUMMER! The same year that question inspired the lyrics to Alice Cooper’s first number one single by simply communicating what it felt like sitting at my desk. No more pencils, no more books, no more teachers, no more anything. Just an amazing feeling of being free and at twelve years old, three months felt like three years. Close your eyes for just a moment – can you remember? Oh my goodness what a feeling and it was contagious. Every friend I knew felt the exact same way.

How about you? What’s the greatest three minutes of your life? Will you ever feel that way again? Well, while your experience may be different from mine scripture clearly teaches the best is yet to come. “Eye has not seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man the things which God has prepared for those who love Him.” 1 Cor 2:9. Did you get that? Think about it. Whatever that moment was, that amazing feeling of freedom and joy we’ve all experienced, it doesn’t even come close. It was merely a taste of eternity which is so much better, and will we ever feel that way again? You bet and Jesus knew it. He said that when we lived our lives with this hope we would be contagious, we would be “the light of the world, “and believe me, the world is watching.

Look forward to the amazing – Let’s be contagious

John Aldridge- Elder