The Thing About Five Dollar Sunglasses
Read The Daily:
“The Lord is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.” — Psalm 28:7
During Spring Break in Myrtle Beach, I bought a pair of new $5 sunglasses. Nothing fancy, just a cheap pair. But I realized I actually like wearing sunglasses. And then, of course, I lost them on the second day. Found them later, but then three days later walking to my car, I heard a crunch. I had stepped on them (and a 200 lb man always wins over plastic). And honestly, I was bummed. Five bucks, right? But it felt like a bigger deal in the moment. It’s funny how we can get so attached to things, even cheap ones, and how a little damage can feel like the end of the world for that object.
But then I think about how much more we value ourselves, our own lives. And how a “little crack” in our story, something that might seem small to an outsider, can feel like it’s completely broken us. We wouldn’t throw away a person like a pair of $5 sunglasses, but sometimes we treat ourselves that way. We let a moment of damage define our entire worth, forgetting that we’re not just some disposable item. We’re so much more complex, so much more resilient, and so much more valuable than any object. It’s a reminder that while things can break and be replaced, our inherent worth isn’t tied to our perfection or lack of damage.
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Prayer for the Day
God what are you showing me? What am I going to do about it?
God help me to see one person that I can serve through a kind word, random act of kindness, or simple gift today?
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Read The New Testament In A Year
Jesus had not yet entered the town but was still at the place where Martha had met him. When her sympathizing Jewish friends saw Mary run off, they followed her, thinking she was on her way to the tomb to weep there. Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet, saying, “Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died.” When Jesus saw her sobbing and the Jews with her sobbing, a deep anger welled up within him. He said, “Where did you put him?” “Master, come and see,” they said. Now Jesus wept. The Jews said, “Look how deeply he loved him.” Others among them said, “Well, if he loved him so much, why didn’t he do something to keep him from dying? After all, he opened the eyes of a blind man.” Then Jesus, the anger again welling up within him, arrived at the tomb. It was a simple cave in the hillside with a slab of stone laid against it. Jesus said, “Remove the stone.” The sister of the dead man, Martha, said, “Master, by this time there’s a stench. He’s been dead four days!” Jesus looked her in the eye. “Didn’t I tell you that if you believed, you would see the glory of God?” Then, to the others, “Go ahead, take away the stone.” They removed the stone. Jesus raised his eyes to heaven and prayed, “Father, I’m grateful that you have listened to me. I know you always do listen, but on account of this crowd standing here I’ve spoken so that they might believe that you sent me.” Then he shouted, “Lazarus, come out!” John 11:30-43
The Greeks–all the way from the Macedonians in the north to the Achaians in the south–decided they wanted to take up a collection for the poor among the believers in Jerusalem. They were happy to do this, but it was also their duty. Seeing that they got in on all the spiritual gifts that flowed out of the Jerusalem community so generously, it is only right that they do what they can to relieve their poverty. As soon as I have done this–personally handed over this “fruit basket”–I’m off to Spain, with a stopover with you in Rome. My hope is that my visit with you is going to be one of Christ’s more extravagant blessings. I have one request, dear friends: Pray for me. Pray strenuously with and for me–to God the Father, through the power of our Master Jesus, through the love of the Spirit– that I will be delivered from the lions’ den of unbelievers in Judea. Pray also that my relief offering to the Jerusalem Christians will be accepted in the spirit in which it is given. Then, God willing, I’ll be on my way to you with a light and eager heart, looking forward to being refreshed by your company. God’s peace be with all of you. Oh, yes! Romans 15:26-33