“Don’t worry, it’s only things and things can be replaced.”
It’s Being Said
That statement has been said over and over ever since Harvey did his hit and run. His running was more like crawling, and excruciatingly slow.
There’s been a sentiment suggesting that flooded homes, businesses and their contents were only things, as if things meant nothing.
I Get It
Measured against the loss of life, then yes, things are only things and can be replaced. But the people can’t and Harvey took some people. However, let’s not be quick to judge what else people have lost.
Jesus Our Messiah
Do you remember when Jesus blessed the loaves and fish and fed the multitudes?
Mark 6:42,
“Then he gave them to be set before the people. They all ate and were satisfied, and the disciples picked up twelve basketfuls of broken pieces of bread and fish.”
Twelve Basketfuls
- A sign that he could feed everyone
- A message to never doubt him
- Then there’s John’s account:
“Gather the pieces that are left over, let nothing be wasted.”
Sure, it was only things, just bits of bread and fish.
They picked up the pieces, so nothing was wasted, the pieces held value.
It’s more than things when:
- The mechanic loses his tools and can’t work for days or weeks.
- The business loses its building and there’s no income for months.
- Photo albums are destroyed, decades of family pictures ruined.
- Heirlooms passed for generations are gone.
- Medicines are destroyed, leaving people vulnerable.
If you still aren’t sure, then go spend some time with a family who got six feet of water in their house. Carry to the curb all their mold covered furniture, clothing, keepsakes, appliances, and beds. Then pull up the stinking, rotting carpet, and tear out all the mildew infested sheetrock. Then tell them, “Don’t worry, it’s only things.”
To Close
Jesus made sure the pieces got picked up. Yes, he could turn stone into bread, he could always make more bread, but that wasn’t the point. Those pieces had value.
No, not the value of human life, but value for life.
Things that are lost may just be things, but things with value for life.
