Gems

I really enjoy checking out the recycle shops in Okinawa. They are like second hand stores in America, except most everything has an Asian flavor to it. As you search through the store every now and then you come across an absolute Gem. Something that no one else can really see unless you are looking for it. Sometimes I find a cooking utensil that is expensive brand new but cheap priced in the recycle store. I come back to the Coffee house with something to give to Joel to make his cooking experience happier. But sometimes you come across something and you know that it is good. About 5 months ago I saw a guitar that was for sale. It was beat up, missing the tuners, dirty, faded, but I could tell that it was a good made guitar. It was not a Martin or a Taylor, but a sound Japanese model with an interesting head, straight body and sound condition. They only wanted 1000 yen about 10 bucks American. I tried to get them a little down, but that was their best price, so I bought it. I knew that if I found some parts for it that this was going to be a beautiful guitar. Well tonight I put the finishing touches on it and it absolutely sounds amazing! It a interesting what a little cleaning and tuning can do to an instrument, but it all starts with a sound body. I really enjoy finding something of value that no one else might want, seeing its potential and tuning it up. That is the way God does things with us. We are beat up, looking faded but God sees something wonderful about us that no one else can see. He tunes us up, and whalla, we can become His beautiful instrument.