Real Value

In these days of turbulent stock markets and uncertain economics, we would do well to know what has real value.

There’s a true story that comes from the sinking of the Titanic. A frightened woman found her place in a lifeboat that was about to be lowered into the frigid North Atlantic. She suddenly thought of something she needed, so she asked permission to return to her stateroom before the boat was lowered. She was granted three minutes or they would leave without her.

She ran across the deck that was already listing at a dangerous angle. She raced through the gambling room with all the money that had rolled to one side, ankle deep. She came to her stateroom and quickly pushed a side her diamond rings and expensive bracelets and necklaces as she reached to the shelf above her bed and grabbed three small oranges. She quickly found her way back to the lifeboat and got in.

Now that seems incredible because thirty minutes earlier she would not have chosen oranges over the smallest diamond, but death had boarded the Titanic. One blast of its awful breath had transformed all values. Instantaneously, priceless things had become worthless. Worthless things had become priceless. And in that moment she preferred three small oranges to a crate of diamonds.

Lord help me to access the things of real value that are needed for my life’s journey. Amen