“For You formed my inward parts;
You knitted me together in my mother’s womb.
I praise You, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made.
Wonderful are Your works; my soul knows it very well.”
(Psalm 139:13-14)
A rock hound named Rob Cutshaw owned a little roadside shop outside Andrews, North Carolina. Like many in the trade, he hunted for rocks and then sold them to collectors or jewelry makers. He knew enough about rocks to decide which to pick up and sell, but he was no expert. He left the appraising of his rocks to other people. As much as he enjoyed the work, it did not always pay the bills. He occasionally moonlighted, cutting wood to help put bread on the table.
While on a dig in the late 1960s, Rob found a rock he described as “purdy and big.” He tried unsuccessfully to sell the specimen, and kept the rock under his bed or sometimes in his closet. He guessed the blue chunk could bring as much as $500 dollars, but would have taken less if something urgent came up like paying his electric bill.
That is how close Cutshaw came to selling for a few hundred dollars what turned out to be one of the largest, most valuable sapphires ever found. You see, the blue rock that Rob had abandoned to the darkness of a closet – now known as “The Star of David” sapphire – is easily worth millions of dollars.
I remember when I first felt the call to ministry, I came up with all kinds of excuses as to why I was not good enough to be a minister. I also have moments when I think upon how fortunate I am to have Gabby stay by my side for over 25 years, and I feel unworthy of such devotion and love. What about you? Have you ever felt worthless, less than, or unworthy? Well, this story about Rob Cutshaw should serve as a reminder that simple things, even dirty things, can be quite valuable. So, the next time you feel useless, worthless, or unworthy, I challenge you to remember that you are a child of God – “fearfully and wonderfully made.” This makes you priceless in the eyes of the One who created you.
God’s Best….Steven