My grandmother had a bell collection on her hallway wall. Over 100 bells, from all over the world, hung on strings hanging from what looked like a curtain rod adorning the hall in a most unusual way. My great aunt collected spoons displayed in a nice wooden case. My Mom ended up with that and now I have the case and a bag full of discolored spoons. I have a collection of Matchbox cars from my childhood. We all have collections of something, I guess.

     The other day I read about a group of people who “collect” sightings of replicas of the Liberty Bell. They set out to find a replica of the Liberty Bell in every state. There’s a long story about how the Department of Treasury gave one to each state years ago, but that’s a story for another time, or for you to google.

     People still collect stamps and coins and Hess trucks (even though the Hess gas company has long gone out of business). Some people collect stickers with the names of the states they have visited and paste them on their RV’s. I too have “collected” experiences, like driving all of Route 66 and US1 (on the East Coast so far). We all collect things.

      To collect anything requires intention. It was widely known that my grandmother collected bells, and so she was always looking for them and receiving them from other people (my parents gave her one with my name on it, for Instance). Driving US1 took me four years (I have a REALLY slow car). Hess trucks used to appear only briefly at Hess stations around Christmas time.

       Collections reflect what we value. I still have the first Matchbox car given to me (a truck actually), and those toys filled much of my childhood – my collection reflects the idyllic childhood that was offered to me.

        Collections grow. In adulthood I collected the few Matchbox cars that were missing from the full production of Lesley Matchbox cars in 1969. The number of roads that I have driven from end to end is getting longer (Route 41 may be my next one). Now granted, collections can get out of hand – go to the Flagler Museum in St. Augustine to find this condition amply illustrated. But that too is a story for another time.

        What do you collect? As I think about our church gathering on a Sunday morning, I hope that we are collecting, with passion, spiritual experiences that make us grow. If collections require intention, how intentional are we on finding the Lord in our worship, our service, and our giving? Collections reflect what we value – where is our time spent, our treasure used, delight displayed? And collections grow, in some cases one little car or spoon at a time, in others, one mile or Liberty Bell at a time. Likewise, our Christian character grows one experience, one Bible reading, one prayer at a time. The Apostle Paul said that we “are being transformed into his image with ever-increasing glory” (2 Corinthians 3:18). That transformation happens one little bit at a time.

       I come to church, I lead Bible Study, I pray sort of as a collector of the grace that God offers us in those experiences. I find my treasures in those times, and I not only value those experiences, but those experiences mold what I treasure. All of our treasures grow as we gather together in His name. I’m glad you’re here.

Back in church,

Craig

For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. Matthew 6:21 (NIV)