Translating a World on the Edge

There are 9.5 billion acres of trees in the world, 400,000 types of flowering plant species, 10,000 species of birds, and 15,000 species of animals. Yet each one in those species is unique. No tree or flower, no bird or beast, no star in heaven, is an exact replica of another. Each of them is one of a kind.

Nowhere is this more evident than in the uniqueness of people. Even with billions of people in the world, there is no person completely like another. There never has been, and never will be. Even identical twins have distinguishable characteristics. So, in all of time, there won’t be another ‘you.’ Don’t you think that is amazing? I do!

The rareness of an object makes it more valuable. As human beings, we are more than objects; so if each of us is ‘one of a kind’ then each of us must be extremely valuable, and extremely loved by the Creator who brought us into being. Do we recognize our own value, and the value of each other? How can we not respect ourselves and every other person?

Often we measure our own value and the value of others in terms of inanimate things: possessions, wealth, power, position, title, education, houses, cars, and pleasure. But  it’s because of our pricelessness that we have dignity and  purpose as individuals. We are truly “fearfully and wonderfully made.” Psalm 139:14.

I’ll try hard to remember that the next time I’m tempted to put a ‘thing’ ahead of another person–an amazing person of value.