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James took a deep breath as he finally brought his red Rolls Royce to a halt. How did he get into this mess?
He had never done community service before and had no idea what to expect. Stepping out morosely, he retrieved the items he had specially prepared for this event from the back seat: Five face masks, three hair nets, a long pole, a shovel, eight pairs of gloves, a first aid box, knee-high svelte boots, khaki overalls, two pairs of swimming goggles—plus a spare one just in case, and a large hospital gown. Struggling to balance all the items in his arms, he approached the very white, very old building.
From her position at the desk Hannah could see the figure of a young man approaching the building—or trying to. Noticing all the equipment, she did a quick mental scan. They weren’t expecting the electrician today, and the plumber wasn’t due in until 3pm. She stood up to further assess the situation. As the shovel blade gave way ever so slightly Hannah caught a glimpse of the person’s face. Could this be the rich guy coming in for compulsory community service? James drew nearer and she became surer. Throwing her head back with a laugh, Hannah returned to her seat to post about it in the Admin Staff Gossip group chat. The girls had to hear about this.
Finally, James arrived. He needed a little help opening the door and getting in, but it didn’t even occur to Hannah to get up and help because she was too caught up in the amusing sight in front of her. Seeing it up close was even more surreal. Her eyes widened as she assessed the young man in front of her and his unnecessary tools. Oh my.
“I’m here”, he said to the receptionist as he maintained a plastic smile. Why was she staring at him like that? “You won’t be needing all of that”, she said, trying to suppress her laughter.
“Oh, I’m pretty sure I will”. “No, really, you won’t”. Casting his mind back to the long row of stalls he had caught a glimpse of the day before, James shook his head.
“I will”.
Sighing, Hannah asked for his name and logged in his attendance for the day. She couldn’t believe it…all this drama just to clean a few toilets.
Well, if you’re reading this you’re obviously not a toilet, but how much drama do you think you’re worth?
Do you think you’re worth a priest losing his ability to hear and speak for months? A young virgin’s life being upturned by news of pregnancy—without a dude to name as the father and in ancient Israel where people were stoned to death for immorality? A young man having to lead his new family all the way to a poor town for a sudden census? How about thousands of little boys losing their lives just because of their age, leaving all those mothers in mourning?
Do you think you’re worth forty days of fasting followed by three great temptations in the wilderness? Early morning prayers and sojourns to foreign lands without as much as extra food and clothing? How about thirty-nine lashes from blade and glass-laden Roman whips? A piercing crown of thorns? Do you think you’re worth bloody torn flesh and aching broken bones? How about crucifixion and hell? Would you go to hell for someone?
Do you think you’re worth dying and going to hell for?
Well, I have good news for you, especially if your answer to any of the above questions is no.
The good thing is that God thinks you are, even if you or anybody else doesn’t.
And, the better news is that only God’s opinion actually matters.
He believes you’re worth all that drama, and He wouldn’t change a single thing He did to reach you and have an intimate relationship with you…He has no regrets
The devil also knows that you’re worth the drama, and that’s why he does everything he can to make you believe you’re not—or that there’s no point either way
But, let your eyes be opened now.
Maybe you shouldn’t be worth all that drama, but God says you are. And that settles it.
So, walk this talk!
Love and light,
Stationarymissionary.
God is helping me walk the talk