Through God No One Loses

Today’s reading: Matthew 10:29-31

Sometimes I remember my high school days and regret that my adult life has not turned out as I’d planned back then. Several of my friends from those days are now successful millionaires (or almost millionaires), at the top of their professions. They are living the “good life” as lawyers, novelists, doctors, movie makers, bankers, and politicians. Meanwhile, my schoolboy dream to become a New York Times investigative reporter and/or to run for Congress has never even come close to reality. (I realized that those two jobs aren’t a good ethical mix, so I understood I would have to make a choice between them eventually.)

My various idealistic struggles with the professional world of my dreams have left me as a loner. I am proud of the work that I do these days (which is a little of everything — from tutoring college writers to writing for websites to mowing lawns to fixing computers to, well, whatever God calls me to do). But I’m certainly not a millionaire. (Not even a 50 thousandaire!?), and I can’t claim to have any respect of any “peers.”   Heck, I can’t even adequately tell people what it is that I “do.”

So sometimes the pride I mention is not enough. Every now and then I catch myself feeling like a “loser.”

It’s in those times that I am grateful for scripture such as today’s reading.

“Are not two sparrows sold for a penny? Yet not one of them will fall to the ground apart from your Father.  And even the hairs of your head are all counted.  So do not be afraid; you are of more value than many sparrows.”

It’s true that my life has not turned out as I thought it would, but that doesn’t mean that it won’t. (The New York Times has plenty of reporters who are much older than me! There’s no reason I couldn’t eventually join their ranks, should God and I see fit. I also know I could mount a serious bid for Congress any time I’m ready.) And in the meantime, God has put great value in the — sometimes “menial” — work that I do each day.

God loves me and, through him, I do great work — no matter what that work may be. I am, definitely, not a loser.

Thanks be to God for all that I have become and all that I will be! May I always remember that my life is a treasure.