The Pawn Shop

Reflections from the Heart of Allan Redenius
Over my lifetime, there are things I’ve never done.  Oh, not because that thing is bad or wrong, it’s just that I’ve never done it.  One of those things is to go to a “pawn shop.”
 
So why would I want to go to a pawn shop?  Here’s what has piqued my interest.  Not too long ago, I saw one of my friends walking along the highway.  He had no car, so I stopped to pick him up.  As he got into the car I asked, “Where are you going?”  “To the hardware store to buy an electric drill.”  Being curious I asked, “Why do you need an electric drill?”  To that he said, “I need to fix my door.  Once upon a time I had an electric drill, but I took it to the pawn shop.”  “Now why would you do that?” I asked.  His answer set me back, “I needed food.”
 
Whoa!  Something I take for granted is being able to afford an electric drill and food.  For my friend, he had to pawn his drill probably for pennies on the dollar just to by food.  All of us should count our blessings, even the seemingly small ones.
 
Today, as I was reflecting on my conversation with my friend, I decided to go to a “pawn shop.”  As I walked through the door, the first thing to greet my eyes were electronics and tools, lots of them.  For some reason, guitars must be a popular item to pawn.  As I browsed around the once treasured stuff now selling for pennies on the dollar, I could not help but hear the merchandise cry out, “I’ve got a story to tell.”  I’m sure a lot of stuff got there out of desperation, like my friend’s drill, or maybe it was once stolen.
 
I asked the “not too eager to answer my piercing questions clerk” about how they operated.  About the only thing I learned is that you can redeem your “pawned” item within thirty days for twenty per-cent interest.  Simple math tells me that’s 240% per year.
 
The other day I met my friend at Walmart.  In the cart was an electric drill.  The one at the hardware store was too expensive.  I wonder how long before that new drill that he bought at retail is sold at less than wholesale.
 
What did Jesus say about helping the oppressed and downtrodden?   
 
Love in Christ,
Pastor Allan
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