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<iframe style=”float: left; border: 1px solid #000000; background-color: #C0C0C0; padding: 2px; margin: 10px; -moz-border-radius: 3px; -khtml-border-radius: 3px; -webkit-border-radius: 3px; border-radius: 3px;” width=”400″ height=”225″ src=”https://www.youtube.com/embed/9FCxuVSkT7k?rel=0″ frameborder=”0″ allowfullscreen></iframe>{/source}James Peel, the Denison Forum research coordinator, sent a link to this video with the phrase, “Just try not to cry.” So far no one has succeeded. Trust me – grab a tissue before you hit “play.”
Watch the video before you finish reading the blog post. I don’t want to spoil the impact.
Myles Eckert was only 8 years old when he found that $20 bill in the parking lot of a Cracker Barrel restaurant. His first inclination was to keep it, but his next thoughts are what mattered.
In an earlier blog post I encouraged all of us to not just give up something for Lent, but to include something as well. I’ve been speaking the name of Jesus to people that I might ordinarily have spoken to about something trivial. We “make conversation” so many times during the day, just to be friendly. We can use our conversations to bring the name of Jesus into someone’s life.
The reminder from the video today is that we can do so much more as well. If an 8-year old boy can give up a $20 bill to a soldier, to pay it forward, what can all of us do? James taught us: “Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says” (James 1:22). Jesus said that whatever we do for others in need, we have done for him. (Matthew 25:40)
I wonder if we should pay more attention to our “second thoughts.” We notice people all day long. What would God say to us if we gave them a second thought? We think about people during the day. What would God tell us if we gave those thoughts a second chance?
As I think about it, my first inclination is rarely when I hear God. It is almost always what I find myself considering when I take the time to think again. Myles’ first inclination was to think about buying a video game. His next thoughts caused him to write a note that a soldier will treasure. And how many times will that $20 bill be paid forward in the future?
Who will you see today that needs your $20 bill? Think about putting one in a place that is handy. Think about what you would like to spend it on for yourself. And then think again about giving it away instead.
Don’t forget to share your stories in the comment section. Listen to God in those second thoughts, and then be a doer of the word. This should be fun. Thanks Myles!
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