My job at the state fair

October 5, 2007

By William E. Richardson

“For bodily exercise profits a little, but godliness is profitable for all things” (1 Timothy 4:8, NKJV).

Years ago on an August night, after the lights of that summer’s Illinois State Fair were turned off, my brother and I exited the family trailer. We were teenagers seeking extra cash. We walked two miles along the side of the highway to the fairgrounds.

On a strength scale, I knew I fell somewhere between that of a thin midway pitchman and a sideshow strongman. I believed I was ready to help disassemble the carnival rides.

Inside the opened gate my brother and I followed the fairgrounds sidewalk to the strangely silent, unlit rides. A crew of workers was already busy. Above the sounds of shuffling feet and clanging metal, I told the man in charge we wanted a job. Smacking his gum, he said, “Okay. If you’re up to it, start over there.”

He pointed us to a familiar amusement ride that a few hours earlier had twirled screaming children around at dizzying speed. We began carrying the pieces handed us to a truck where others loaded them.

An hour of constant carrying took my brother and me beyond our regular bedtime. Our energy levels began waning. We needed a break. At least a bag of cotton candy apiece to refresh us.

The other workers kept pace amid the smell of sweat and cigarette smoke. My brother told me his muscles were hurting. I admitted I felt tired. We continued carrying the metal pieces for as long as we could.

When it seemed the two of us had spent all our strength, I told the man in charge we were ready for our pay. “I hired you to work all night,” he responded shaking his head.

I wanted to say, “I thought this job paid by the hour,” but was too tired to argue. I doubted I could even lift the mallet fairgoers used that week to try ringing the bell to test their strength.

My brother and I dragged home. I dropped into bed feeling cheated and defeated.

My job at the state fair was short-lived. I lacked the stamina. I had neither the physical strength nor the endurance to work through the night.

Physical strength is important. As it does in so many areas, though, the Bible elevates its spiritual twin as more significant. It tells us to “be strong in the Lord and in the power of His might” (Ephesians 6:10).

Romans 4:20 talks about Abraham being “strengthened in faith.” When the prophet Isaiah mentions waiting on the Lord to renew our strength (Isaiah 40:31), he says we’ll even be able to “run and not be weary.” Still, the focus is really about spiritual power.

God has a spiritual muscle-building plan. It begins with a healthy diet of His Word. It then includes daily lifting of our responsibilities and burdens with His help. He’ll never add weights we can’t lift. Day after day, we become spiritually stronger.

God’s plan may not equip you to carry parts of carnival rides all night, but it will strengthen you to face the rest of life.

William E. Richardson is senior pastor of Afton (Iowa) Assembly of God.