The funny thing about chewing gum, is that there is a great deal more of it in the world than you realize. It comes in a bewildering variety of shapes, colors and flavors, all wrapped up in an even greater array of interesting and well-designed packaging. Its story stretches back, that we know of, to the beginnings of recorded history. And though the exact way in which different cultures partake of this stuff, one thing seems clear: gum is here to stay, and not only figuratively. No. Gum, literally, is everywhere.

This was never more apparent to me than a couple of days ago, on the way to the car, after picking up my boys from school. Out of nowhere, I suddenly became very aware of all the dark spots on the sidewalk below. I realized that I could tell, roughly, how old the gum was by how dark it had become. As I lifted my eyes to survey the rest of the sidewalk, I was alarmed and overwhelmed by the sheer number of dark spots that invaded an, otherwise, perfectly regular walkway.

It didn't stop there. No, when I got to the corner, I peered around to see more of the gum silently staking its claim on the adjoining sidewalk as well as in the street. As this line of thought developed, I then realized that none of the other parents seemed to notice the massive invasion of discarded gum that threatened to envelop the neighborhood as if it were some strange monster, disjointed in body but united in purpose.

Just then, I wondered how much gum, throughout history, had been secretly stashed under desks and tables across the globe; hidden, but not gone...disposed of, but not vanquished. Today, in landfills, dusty storerooms and classrooms everywhere, reside the countless, persistent remnants of gum previously chewed, enjoyed and then deposited on this or that. Then it became clear...there is so much of it in the world that people don't even see it anymore, nor do they care; not really. And even if they do, who is going to clean up all that mess? The task is insurmountable...impossible...unachievable.

I was overcome with a sense of how dire this situation actually is. I told myself to calm down; that it was just chewing gum. But, I quickly realized that what I was experiencing wasn't really about chewing gum at all.

Like chewing gum, sin comes in as many attractive and compelling varieties as can be imagined. After it loses its initial flavor, we desire to spit it out and be rid of it, yet no matter how hard we try or how clever we are, we can never completely hide it or totally get rid of it. No, it will still be right where we threw it...becoming another hardened, ever darkening spot on the sidewalk of our very being, persisting into the future beyond our own lifespan.

But, there is one who can help. Armed with his special scraping tool, he sets out each day to offer his services to sidewalks everywhere. Once his proposal is accepted, he expertly removes each spot completely, regardless of how long it has been there, revealing areas of the sidewalk that have long been without sunlight. Having collected them all, he then throws the lot into a furnace of Holy Spirit fire, obliterating them from existence.

Day or night, there is no sidewalk he cannot clean...no neighborhood he will not service. The quality of his work is the same for everyone, as is the price. If some gum shows up afterword, he is always willing to come back and remove it with the same urgency and efficiency as the first time.

In a world covered in gum, it is a great comfort to know that he is out there, making a difference. The problem is, not everyone has his business card. Hey, maybe you could give it to them.