Walking down the quaint city streets of Sausalito, California, full of high-end mom and pop shops, I stumbled upon this delightful chocolate store. Inside was an incredibly friendly chocolatier. The shop smelled like 100 kinds of chocolate, although I’m not sure there exists such a number. This place was the love child of Willy Wonka’s Chocolate Factory and Rodeo Drive.
As I approached the counter I saw row after row of neatly arranged truffles spouting out flavor combinations I would have never imagined, each square painted with delicate precision. I looked to the rear and in what I could only explain as a chocolate staging area was a middle-aged woman, the chef, the constructor of all things chocolate, an artisan of sweets. She had been to Switzerland to learn her craft and her skill was on full display in the glass case in front of me. It was abundantly clear that she passionately loved creating these little nuggets of gold, so much so that I felt I must support her love.
“How much are the truffles?” I ask.
“Two dollars each.” she replied, with a small smile and a glimmer in her eye that exuded pride in her creation.
If you offer me a little piece of chocolate and ask me for two dollars I’d spit on the ground and accuse you of malice and thievery. But it this instance, seeing the look on her face as she looked down at her creation, I couldn’t help but feel that each piece was worth every cent and that she may even feel justified in charging more if she could. She invested large amounts of time and care into each piece, making sure every single one was perfect, although not the same. I bought two pieces, shared them with my traveling companions, and we went on our way. I thoroughly enjoyed eating each piece but I can’t imagine my joy comes close to the joy of the chocolatier, seeing her time, effort, love, and care being embraced by another. An outsider May read this blog and declare, “Two dollars is an awful lot for a tiny chocolate square. I wouldn’t pay such an exorbitant price. It’s not worth it!” Others may sound off in unison.
I have to wonder if God looks at us the same way. Each of us unique creations but masterfully created. Some people may not like orange creme chocolate truffles and some may not like lemon anise pepper truffles, but the diviner of chocolate made each one perfect in its own way. Some may not agree that each one is worth the same, but the chocolatier made each one and placed the same price tag on each. Each one was different, but each one holds the same value.
God created each one of us a different flavor and each one of us is worth God sending His only son. Despite sometimes glaring differences and peculiar personal preferences, as Christians we must learn to see people as God, our Creator, sees them.
Worthy.