"If you lend anything to another man, you must not enter his house to get his security. Stand outside! The owner will bring it out to you. If the man is poor and gives you his cloak as security, you are not to sleep in it. Take it back to him at sundown so that he can use it through the night and bless you; and the Lord your God will count it as righteousness for you." Deuteronomy 24:10-13
THE PAWN SHOP
As I sit and wonder about our lives lately, I seem drawn to the little pawnshop tucked away by the wandering creek. So close to town is this little shop and yet it sits back in a wooded area close to the creek.
Many a day I wander to the creek, sit along the bank, enjoy the sounds of the birds, and feel the breeze as it gently blows through my hair. The sun shines down upon my body and gives a glowing brightness to my soul. I keep cool by the leaves fanning my body with the breeze wafting up from the water.
Today I sit here and ponder my life and the lives of those I meet daily. It just seems like yesterday I was a young girl and had no cares except to play and pretend I was a grownup.
Oh to be able to harken back to those carefree days of youth, but I must stay steeped in reality. That reality brings me to the realization that I can only go so far on my own. I can only sit by the creek feeling the sunshine and breeze a minute fraction of a lifetime. I need God and I need others in my life.
Our lives flee by so very rapidly that we almost get lost in the hurry. Today is the day I must go on my way to meet my brothers and sisters who are dwelling in the same timeframe as I.
I struggle to get up from the ground, as my old body is just not as flexible as it once was, in other words I hurt. Surely if you see me as I walk like a four-legged whatever, trying to get up, you must laugh. Ah, that is the answer to pain; I laugh at myself….what a way to release that pain. If you are in perpetual pain, try laughter, it truly does work!
I am determined to visit the little pawnshop down the way, as I do go there occasionally. There have been times when someone needed baby clothes and I was able to assist, just be being there and listening to conversation. Some might say going to a pawnshop to see what goes on there is rather strange. Then, again, I like to go to those strange places, pawnshops, bars, or busy city streets in big cities at 2:00 a.m. in the morning.
As I approach the shop, I notice there are many cars parked in the parking lot. I think to myself, "This really must be a very busy place."
Entering the door, I see people lined up holding all sorts of items they wish to pawn. A young man and woman ahead of me has a light, I assume one uses it in the construction business. He is also holding a printer. His companion has a very expensive looking camera. As they approach the counter and show their wares, it does not take long for the man to tell them, "No, we are not taking your kind of items right now."
There is another woman standing at the counter, she looks to be in her 60’s, and she is trying to pawn her rings.
Now stepping back a bit I want to acquaint you with the history of Pawning. According to the encyclopedia.thefreedictionary.com, "In the west, pawn broking existed in the ancient Greek and Roman Empires."
"Likewise, in the East, the business model existed in China 3000 years ago no different than today, through the ages strictly regulated by Imperial or other authorities." On it goes, through history. And if you read Job and Deuteronomy, you will find Biblical references to pawning.
Yesterday as I was approaching the pawnshop there was an elderly woman walking pushing a walker type device on the side of the busy street facing oncoming traffic. I assume she was on her way to the nearby grocery store. Oh how my heart leapt out in sadness. She was very old and I wanted to stop and help her, but I could not stop in the busy traffic. All I could do for her was pray.
As I thought about her the idea came to me that perhaps, she wanted to be self-sufficient as best she could. Perhaps if I stopped to ask if I could drive her she might be offended.
There are so many people out there, there always have been, who need help. Some are willing to accept and others are not.
Therefore, it goes with the Pawn Shop customer. Yes, many go to the Pawn Shop to buy "cheap" items. Those items sold belong to someone who had to sell their belongings, just to eat.
As I strolled around the Pawn Shop looking at the goods for sale, I had a chance to look into the eyes of some who were engaged in pawning their items. I cannot judge from appearances of who might be there for drug or alcohol money rather than actual living expenses money, but I know they ALL are hurting.
God says we are to take care of our brothers and sisters who are in need. It is very hard sometimes to do so, when we ourselves are in need.
The churches do a good job of helping….the food banks do a good job of helping….but we need, YOU AND ME, also to do a good job of helping as well.
Many do not go to church, so they are often lost in the cracks. Some are lost in the cracks and cannot receive any type of government financial aid. That is when we need to step up and take action.
Too often, those in need do not ask, they just suffer along, going to Pawn Shops until there is nothing left to Pawn. Have you been there? I have, I know what it is all about, this feeling of desperation.
There was a time I was there, little hope, still I had faith and God provided for me and mine. If my Mother had not helped me, (prompted by God) I would have fallen through the cracks. So, believe me when I say, I know.
We live in a world where neighborliness is non-existent. Sure, SOMETIMES, if you belong to a church, they come forth, sometimes, even when asked, they do not, for some reason or another.
My plea this week is really a job I am asking you to do for God. If you do not know your neighbor, go knock on their door and introduce yourself. Bake a small loaf of bread and take to them. Leave them a pleasant note on their door, do
something to communicate with your neighbor or someone who lives near by that you do not know.
Some, I believe would "pawn" their souls to get their needs met and that is not what God is all about.
God is about loving Him, loving yourself, and loving your neighbor, rich or poor or in between. Please do not let someone "pawn themselves into hell." Desperate people make desperate decisions; please try to be a stop-gap for those so far down in life they feel there is no way out. If you indeed, lend, do not take their cloak away.....see above verse. Deuteronomy 24:10-13
Dear God, help each one of us to reach out with anything extra that we have to offer those in need, so they do not have to "pawn" anything, just to eat or pay their utility bills or medicine bills. There is so much need in our United States of America, please let us not forget our brothers and sisters. In Jesus name, I pray.
