Tuesday, July 21, 1998
Tuesday, July 21, 1998
Make vows to the LORD your God, and perform them; let all who are around
him bring gifts to the one who is awesome. (Psalms 76:11
NRSV)
If you were asked to buy the tackiest gift imaginable, what would you buy? Martin Marty was
once invited to a postnuptial party. He was asked to bring "a gift in the worst possible taste." The
purpose was to embarrass the newly married couple. They would open their gifts standing in front
of their family and friends and "ooh and aah" as they opened each tacky item.
Marty found a five and ten store and began his search for the tackiest gift. To his delight he
discovered a yellow plastic dove with a silver beak hollowed to hold a small plant and chained so
it could be suspended. This was the perfect gift for the occasion, he thought. No one would have
a more ratty gift than his. Then, an amazing thing happened. Expecting to be embarrassed at the
checkout counter, he was instead surrounded by shoppers. They wanted to know where he had
found such a beautiful object. Several of those doves got sold that day.
We have lots of options on how we use our gifts, and talents, but none of our gifts are ugly. Just
like the shoppers who admired the plastic bird, our gifts are beautiful in God's eyes when our
talents are used for good.
Prayer: God of all gifts, bless me as I use my talents for sharing of your love. Amen.
Ronald Newhouse, Texas, USA