I was at a graduation reception for one of Connie’s (my wife) cousins.  As I sat at the table, in the church fellowship hall, stuffing my face with that good ole reception type food, Connie’s uncle (father of the graduate) sat down next to me.  Now, he is not a guy I normally talk to much except for the basic, "Hey there, how are you?" and then a good, firm handshake.  "How is your church?"  "It’s going fine."  "Well that’s good."  Maybe we exchange some other pleasantries but that is basically it.  But this particular night was different.  Uncle Mark sits down next to me and we exchange the usual pleasantries and then he says, "I suppose you have to drive all the way back to Jackson tonight (this was on a Saturday night; 1 1/2 hours away)."  I said, "Yup, I have worship tomorrow morning."  Then uncle Mark asked this question, "So, how do you come up with all those sermon ideas?"  I sat there for a couple seconds; stunned like a deer standing in the middle of US HWY 71 gazing straight into the headlights of an oncoming car wondering why its there.  Once I pulled my gaze from the oncoming headlights I said, "Well…God, of course."  Uncle Mark rolls his eyes at me like I gave him a dumb answer and said, "I know that, but where do the ideas come from?  Do you read books or do they come from everyday life…what?"  I told him that I do read and pay attention to the world around me, but in the end, God places the sermon on my heart to preach to his people.  Mark seemed disappointed with my answer.  It was like he was looking for my secret ingredient to some famous recipe of mine ("Yes", I do cook and "No" I really don’t have any famous recipes, but work with me here) and I told him "salt and pepper".  It has got to be more difficult than that…right?

Just salt and pepper; that’s it; nothing fancy; something everyone has.

But for some reason people want something more.  They want to hear that it is more difficult than that.  This is because these people do not realize that they have salt and pepper "in their cupboard".  Ask a mother how she knew what to do when her first baby was born.  She will probably tell you that she was a little scared at first, but then it just came to her.  "Motherly instincts" she will say.  Mothers just know…salt and pepper.

I worked for my dad for 2 1/2 years trying to learn the car business so I could take over some day.  I quickly found out that I was a very bad car salesman (selling 4 cars in 2 1/2 years I believe qualifies as "bad").  I asked my dad, "How do you do it?  How do you know how and when to call for the sale?  How do you make people feel comfortable with you?"  He told me that he just knew and that he could not teach me that skill.  It was salt and pepper.

Think about what you do.  How do you know how to do that skill so well?  Hard work?  Sure.  But it does come easier to you than others.  What is it then?  Salt and pepper.  When God calls someone to a certain vocation whether it is a pastor or a salesperson or a parent or whatever, you don’t have to think too much about it.  When Jesus sent his disciples out to proclaim the Gospel he told them not to worry about what they will say; that God will give them the words…salt and pepper.  Those disciples were called to that particular vocation and God was not going to let them fail.  God has given you gifts and it is God who enables you to use them.

There is no secret formula.  There is no secret ingredient.  It is just God; your salt and pepper, working through you for His glory.  So next time someone asks you, "How do you know how to do that?"  say "Salt and Pepper." and then give witness to our awesome God who gives us the "flavor" in life.  Praise be to God and Amen!