Cherished Things

From My Perspective - - -

Most people have mementos – items or notes that have special meaning - that have been saved. It might be said – these are some cherished things – things that are held or treated as being dear to one. There is an interesting news report of the past couple of days regarding the U.S. Military and the Afghans. It focuses on a report by the British Broadcasting Company regarding what the NATO and U.S. Military did with copies of the Koran after they concluded that prisoners held by NATO forces in a detention camp were passing messages to one another in copies of the Koran. The copies of the Koran were taken from the prisoners and incinerated. What has and is ensuing is interesting. When Afghans realized that the Koran was being burned, some reached into the fire to retrieve copies and others retrieved what they could from the smoldering ashes. The BBC report leads with: “At least four people have been killed and 20 injured in Afghanistan after protests spread over the burning of copies of the Koran at a US airbase.”Why did they do this – protest and reach into the fire? Because the Koran is a sacred writing and a cherished document for them. Any such action by “infidels” is viewed as desecration. U.S. officials have apologized but so far that is being ignored. One protester, 18-year-old Ajmal, told Reuters: "When the Americans insult us to this degree, we will join the insurgents."

A program that has gained considerable viewership is called: “Hoarders.” It is a study about people who have accumulated so much that their home or dwelling place is no longer habitable. Many of the things hoarded are broken, useless or worthless – but the person possessing them becomes very emotional and a bit combative as things are being removed. Those who observe the program see it as study of mental health issues that need to be addressed and the person assisted to overcome that habit of accumulation and unhealthy environment. There was a story the about The Collyer Brothers in New York City during the 1930-40s. For their own but unknown reasons, they became recluses and hoarders. The New York Sun from that day reported: “A Surrogate's Court official hired movers…to empty the house. After ripping out the cellar doors, they began removing Homer's 2,500-volume law library, only a 10th of the books in the house. Amidst hundreds of tons of garbage, they found family oil portraits; hope chests jammed with unused piece goods, silks, wool, damask, and brocade; a half-dozen toy trains; 14 upright and grand pianos; chandeliers; tapestries; 13 ornate mantel clocks; 13 Oriental rugs; five violins; two organs, and Langley's certificate of merit for punctuality and good conduct from Public School 69 for the week ending April 19, 1895…The Herald Tribune reported that the movers, in clearing only two first-floor rooms, had removed 51 tons of stuff. Another 52 tons later…they found Langley's body. Police told the Sun that his clothing may have snagged a tripwire, releasing a booby trap that had buried him alive in paper…All the Collyers had wanted…was to be left alone.”

If you prepared a list of things that you cherish, what would you have as the ones with greatest priority for you? Why would you cherish them? Would there be any Books on that list? Some religious symbol? Personally, one of the priority items would be to try and retrieve the children’s Baby Pictures off the wall. The rationale is obvious – they would be among the irreplaceable things. What do you cherish the most and why is it cherished? Those who rank the best-selling books of all time find that The Bible is still rated Number 1 with more than 6 Billion Copies sold. Other books on the list have as Number 3, Noah Webster’s – The Spelling Book with up to 100 Million, and Number 6 is the McGuffey Readers. In the Church, a favorite Hymn is The Old Rugged Cross. Part of the Lyric is: “So I’ll cherish the old, rugged cross…I will cling to the old, rugged cross…” Do we cherish it? Why? Your answer should be because Jesus Christ died on a cross to pay the penalty for your sins. The Word of God should also be cherished similarly to the Bereans in Acts 17:11-12, “These were more fair-minded…in that they received the word with all readiness, and searched the Scriptures daily…Therefore many of them believed.” Do you cherish the Word of God and study it daily? Why not? Consider these things with me!