We stood in the lobby of our hotel waiting for the tour bus to pick us up, when a distinguished man dressed in a very expensive looking suit and carrying a garment bag over his shoulder, hurried in the door. Approaching the front desk, we overheard him, “My Mercedes was broken into overnight. They smashed a side window. I have a meeting to be at in twenty minutes so I need to take care of this.” The desk clerk said that he would call the police so that the man could notify his business contact that he would be late for the meeting. When the man left to make his call, my husband turned and asked the desk clerk if this happened often. After all, we had a vehicle parked overnight too. “Not often here,” he said. “But it does happen at malls. Thieves usually have their eyes on something they see in a car. It takes three or four seconds to break in, grab something and run off.” The businessman returned to the lobby and as he waited for the police, he said, “I knew I shouldn’t have left the briefcase in the back seat, but I was parked under a security light. Go figure.”

 

Our bus driver arrived and I assume that the police helped the gentlemen and that he eventually went to his meeting. Several times during the day, my husband and I thought about that businessman and the interruption in his day. How would he get the window fixed? Would there be minute glass particles scattered in the car that would surface in weeks to come? What about the lost time? The lost articles—was there anything personal, confidential or of value in his briefcase? What about the invasion of privacy? The expense? The irritation? 

 

In the book of 1 John, the apostle reminds us of the three sins in the Garden of Eden still alive and working today: the lust of the flesh, the lust of the eyes, and the pride of life. Hmmm… the thief saw the briefcase, wanted the briefcase and thought that he deserved it. What about other items that are stolen daily? Sometimes we are the victims. Sometimes we do the stealing. Oh, you say, I am not a thief!

 

We may not steal material things in a “conventional” way, and but what about…

 

            monopolizing a conversation and stealing from someone’s else’s need to talk and share something that is important to them? It might be in a meeting or a personal conversation. We prefer the sound of our own voice and fail to listen to someone else.

 

            stealing someone’s time? We commit to a project and then back out. We don’t complete a project the right way—someone else has to finish it.

 

            wanting my way and stealing from someone’s interests?

 

            building ourselves up or taking the credit, when it should be shared?

 

            failure to keep our word? We may repeat a story meant only for us. Gossip spreads like glass particles.

 

            failing to acknowledge or appreciate what someone else has done

 

            negative attitudes and words  robbing others of joy or creating tension?

 

            Can you think of any other stolen items? After all, when we carry the Light of the world with us, we live in a well-lit area. It seems that we should want to protect our surroundings and things of value, shouldn’t we? (c) Marilyn Nutter

 

Reflection: Read Ephesians 4: 20-32 and meditate on Philippians 2:4

 

 We ate several meatless meals when visiting my daughter Susan a few weeks ago. Here is a variation of one of her recipes.