Best Taffy On The Block

The sign in the window caught my attention. Don’t know why. We were just strolling down the sidewalk of Depot Bay, leisurely scoping out each little shop, making our way down to the tiny little inlet to watch the fishing boats go in and out. The sign read, “Best Taffy In the World”. I was still new to Oregon, and was not really aware that coast towns have a unique claim to fame when it comes to salt water taffy. Every beach town in Oregon has at least one prominent candy store, maybe more.

We were on our first little trip to the Oregon coast since moving to Oregon. It was kind of a second honeymoon. So we had lots of time to see the sights. I bought a couple dollars worth of the taffy from the candy store, probably two or three of each and every flavor. We continued down the sidewalk looking in windows and going in a few stores. We happened onto another store with another sign in the window. This one read, “Best Taffy in Oregon”. We got a good laugh. Which sign was really true? We crossed the highway and sat on the seawall and watched the waves crashing on the rocks. And ate a few pieces of our new found Oregon treasure.

Eventually we went back and finished our stroll down the street full of small store fronts. And wouldn’t you know, I found another sign in the window of yet another candy store. This one read, “Best Taffy on the Block.” I stared in amazement, not knowing whether to laugh at it, or admire it. I called Carol back to look at the sign, too, and she was just as amused as I was.

I went into that store and bought a whole pound of taffy. I really can’t say if it was better than the other. I couldn’t tell. I gave away what was left of the first candy, the “best taffy in the world”. I found a true treasure – “The Best Taffy On the Block”!

No big claim to fame, just a humble hard-working candy maker. In fact, I stood there in his store and watched as he pulled the taffy and made the candy. I look back, now, and wonder if the other two stores even made their own candy. They probably imported it from Tennessee or New Mexico, then put a sign in their window claiming to be the best.

Consider this little known medical fact: “The person most at risk for heart disease is not the high-powered executive, it’s the frustrated janitor stuck with existential despair.” Don’t worry about being the best in the world, or best in the state. Just make the best taffy on the block and people will be blessed. God is not impressed, like we are, with big numbers, fancy shows, or our self made claim to fame. He is pleased with his servants who are faithful, even in the small things. Do not despair, my friend.

“Your attitude should be the same as that of Christ Jesus: Who, being in very nature God, did not consider equality with God something to be grasped, but made himself nothing, taking the very nature of a servant… Therefore God exalted him to the highest place” (Phil 2:5-9)

“Whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Mt 20:26-28)