I walk 30 minutes every day. And just about every day, I find a penny. I kid you not. It's like I'm getting paid 1 cent to go walking. And everytime, I say the same thing when I find a penny: "It's another lucky day!" Doesn't matter to me if it's heads up or Lincoln Memorial up, it's always a lucky day to me when you find a penny. Whether it's a shiny copper one or tarnished with time, I am sure to pick it up and carry it home. I never pass up a penny.
Yet, who knows how many other people have walked by and haven't picked it up. And even more disconcerting ... who's dropping them? Are people really just losing pennies everywhere they go through holes in their pockets? Or are they really that heavy in your pocket that you toss them out? Or it it that you are financially just fine, and don't have to worry about a measily penny. When did people begin disregarding the value of the penny? Are we Americans that arrogant that we can throw money away? Granted, I've heard it costs more to make the penny than it's worth. However, a penny is still 1/100th of a dollar. I figure in 100 days I will have myself a dollar just from walking. And you wouldn't just walk by one of those on the street.
How do we decide as humans what has value and what does not? A cardboard baseball card. Photographs. A piece of jewelry. Time. People. A penny.
One thing I'm truly thankful for is that God finds me valuable. Piddly little me. He never walks by me in disregard. He sees me there alone, sometimes shiny, sometimes tarnished, and loves me just the same. Me, a sinner. He found me so valuable in fact, that He sent His precious, sinless Son, Jesus, to die for me. He sent Him to die for you, too.
Each of us is priceless to God. Even if today you don't feel that way about yourself, I promise you God feels that way about you. While I'm collecting pennies to make a dollar, God is loving lonely souls to build a Kingdom. And if I'm shouting, "It's another lucky day," for just a penny, imagine what God is shouting about you! Jesus said, "There is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents." (Luke 15:10). So apparently, even the angels are shouting!
Maybe I'd better start stopping by the people I walk by like I do the pennies. Telling lost souls the Good News of Jesus Christ! A collection of hearts on fire for Christ would be a far greater treasure than a piggy bank full of pennies. You can bank on it.
You know ... I think it's time for a walk.
