Who saves a broken sea shell? A trained eye knows how to look past the broken shells to find the real jewels on the beach. Thousands upon thousands of shells lie broken on the beach, but the valuable ones are those few shells that have it all together. On a trip to the beach, I began the process of training my 3-year-old son, Caden, how to look past the broken shells to find the jewels.
ClampIt was a beautiful day. The blue sky was broken up by pockets of white clouds and the waves gently rolled up on our feet as we strolled down the beach. I took his tiny hand in mine and walked slowly while scanning the shoreline for sea shells. Occasionally I would find a shark’s tooth and explain to Caden how he could spot one. I explained, “You’ve got to look past all of these broken pieces.”
He refused to listen. Every shell we stepped on, he would pick up. “Is this a good one, Daddy?”
“No, son, that is just a broken piece of a shell.” I would then toss it over to the side. His head would drop and he would keep looking. Then his eyes would light up again and he would say, “What about this one?” Hardly looking this time, I glanced and said no. The question was repeated shell after shell. Each one was just a pathetic broken piece. I knew he was only 3, but why couldn’t he get this?
It was then that he picked up a shell, and walked over to my wife. “Mom, I know it’s broken, but it was once beautiful. Save it.” Of course, she melted and put it in her pocket to keep. I was the one who didn’t get it!
This world is full of broken people, and we look past them every single day. When Jesus looks out over the sands of time, he sees beaches full of precious treasure that desperately needs to be restored. So how do you see lost people? Some see the lost as projects to fix on a mission day. Some see the lost as problems. Jesus sees them as people in need of a Savior who will completely restore their brokenness. As we get older, we learn to judge others without listening to their story and overlook those who are not important.
So I dare you this week to pray two prayers every day: “Jesus, open my eyes to see people today like you see them,” and “Jesus, use me to help pick up the pieces of their brokenness.”
– Clamp is evangelism group director for the South Carolina Baptist Convention. Follow him on Twitter @leeclamp or on his blog at www.leeclamp.com.