Enhancing Value

Thirty years ago a friend gave me a beautiful antique dresser. From time to time I have entertained thoughts of refinishing it but never got around to it. When we moved 3 years ago a friend who knows antiques admired my dresser so I told her of my plan to refinish it. She reacted quickly telling me that I should not do that because it would reduce the value of the dresser as an antique. She pointed out that the scuff marks on the front of the dresser add character as do the scratches on the top. She advised me to clean the wood with a mixture of turpentine and mineral spirits as that would freshen it up without detracting from its value.

I have thought about that incident many times since then. I mistakenly assumed that I needed to remove the evidence of wear and tear on my dresser in order to increase its value only to find that it was the wear and tear that added value. I do the same thing in my life. I think that I need to remove the scuff marks of life in order to make myself acceptable or presentable. I'd like to avoid the process of scuffing all together if I could because it would be far less painful that way.

Even though I have a beautiful white runner on the top of my dresser to hide some of the ugliest of the scratches, I have a greater appreciation for the scuff marks and other blemishes on it. Now the challenge - look at my scuff marks in the same way. I am slowly learning that my scuff marks are of value in my life. Because of them I am wiser, more sensitive, more understanding, more resilient and more capable of dealing with the scuffing experiences I will face in the future.

And that reminds me of something my Mum used to tell us. We sometimes pray and often hope that we will become like Jesus but when God begins the process, we start complaining because it's not very much fun. I want to believe that my scuff marks are evidence of the process of becoming more like Christ. I think I'll look into some turpentine & mineral spirits for the soul - maybe a dose of Scripture and some time with the Holy Spirit - so I can be freshened up.