Gene Ort

I am not a historian and certainly no expert on the evolution of trade, but I do understand commerce. Here and abroad. From time to time I travel in other countries and there is always a ritual upon entering another nation, I exchange my American currency for the currency of the country I am visiting. It’s fun. I try to make sense of the system and look carefully at the artwork and usually I try and keep a little of it in my wallet to take home for a souvenir. In India, it’s all about Rupees. In England, it’s mostly about Pounds or Euros. Recently I was in Cambodia, there it’s Riel, but they were very happy to accept American currency.

It was not that long ago in American history when it was common to pay for goods and services with a chicken, goat, bushel of apples or what ever you had access too. It’s amazing what you can buy with some beads..  New York for example..

The point is value. To some degree or another, value is measured in two ways. Either your the buyer.. or the seller. Almost all of us are both.

Last fall I had the opportunity to coach a girls 4th grade volleyball team. It was a two month commitment. Three events per week. What was I thinking? My life was already to busy. At first I was fine.. then I started to feel the pressure. I started asking myself questions and really began to wonder if I had made a mistake. Is this the best use of my time ? A question of value.

Then something happened. I was struck by the diversity within the group of girls.. The range of personality and skill level mirrored many of  the people in my everyday life encounters. There were girls who were clearly athletic stars and girls who lacked basic coordination. There were confident high achiever types and timid insecure types. Strong, weak, mouthy, pouty, they were all there.  A significant change in my awareness came when I yelled at one of the girls for kicking a ball and nearly smashing another girl in the face with it. She shut down completely. I had been oblivious to the the damage I could do even though I was clearly right to protect the other girls from this potential source of injury. It took me several minutes to talk this little girl back into “being ok”. Up to that point I had been treating all the girls pretty much the same regardless of their individual personalities or skill levels. But not anymore. I got real intentional about understanding each one better. My wife, Mary was also co-coaching with me and she helped me a great deal with this. In the weeks to follow I got significantly better at interacting with each girl with better understanding.

I was loving these girls. Each one in a different way.

Grandma & Granddaughter in Remote Cambodian Village

During the time I was coaching this volleyball league, I was also prepping for a two week trip to India and Cambodia. These mission trips are a very big deal to me. They are a significant part of what I think God has called me to do. It’s important! Really important! A very high value in my way of thinking.

One morning in prayer.. I believe I got a little revelation… about value and currency.

God’s currency.

He does not need money, He owns everything.  What does God value ?

Love.

God’s currency is love. And it has the same value everywhere. No need to exchange it at the border.

When we are sharing God’s love, it has the same value no matter to who or where you are sharing it. In India, Cambodia or the 4th grade girls volleyball team.

So what does God want ?   Who has something of value for Him ?

We do. He wants us. He wants to spend His love on us. Lavishly.

Jesus is God, spending His love on us.

The Cross, the symbol of God’s love and payment in full for my sin and the sins of all His children.

Jesus, the embodiment of God’s love for us.