By the Beautiful gate

"And a certain man lame from his mother's womb was carried, whom they laid daily at the gate of the temple which is called Beautiful, to ask alms from those who entered the temple; who, seeing Peter and John about to go into the temple, asked for alms. And fixing his eyes on him, with John, Peter said. "Look at us." So he gave them his attention, expecting to receive something from them. Then peter said, "Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk." - Acts 3: 2 - 6

Recently, I visited Barcelona, Spain. The Lively culture, stunning architecture, the delicious cuisine and an everlasting memory made for a captivating experience—until things went south. While waiting by the entrance of the busy airport, my bag was stolen, leaving me heartbroken and devastated. Inside that bag were all my cherished and valuable possessions, one of which included my precious Bible.

I felt a deep sense of grief because behind all my valuables held precious memories and stories. In that moment of despair, I remembered the last passage I read from my Bible—the story of John and Peter meeting the lame man at the Beautiful Gate. This encounter took on new meaning for me in light of what had just happened.

The airport became the metaphorical Beautiful Gate in my mind. The thief, like the lame man, seemed to embody a different kind of brokenness, one that drove him to steal from others in a desperate pursuit of material gain. I could only speculate how many times he had roamed the airport, looking for an easy target. But what he had taken from me was far more valuable than mere possessions - my Bible—a source of comfort and guidance in my life.

Just as the lame man begged for silver and gold, the thief was consumed by his obsession for wealth. Little did he realize that in his relentless pursuit of material riches, he was about to uncover something far more valuable—a treasure beyond price that would nourish his soul.

My Bible contained messages of hope, love, and resilience that exceeded the physical realm—something that no amount of money could buy. This realization filled me with a bittersweet perspective. Although I had lost my tangible belongings, I still held on to the wisdom and faith encapsulated within those pages. In the end, the thief unwittingly took something from me that was beyond his grasp, reminding me that true wealth lies not in material possessions, but in the convictions of the heart and the grace of faith.

What the thief possessed was far more valuable than mere material wealth or money; it was the word of God. In his desperate state, he resorted to sin by stealing from others. This reveals that God understood the true desires of the thief's heart. The thief's actions mirrored the deep longing of the lame man for something that seemed just out of reach. While Peter and John offered the lame man not material wealth, but the miraculous gift of restored mobility, the thief's desperation stemmed from a different kind of void.

The thief's actions reflected his craving to fill an emptiness within him, driven by a desire for eternal satisfaction. If he had not been gripped by such a deep-seated need for fulfillment, he likely would never have resorted to taking what belonged to others. Instead of enriching himself with possessions, he sought to remedy his internal struggles through actions that ultimately did nothing to address his inner turmoil.

We all face internal struggles, and during these moments of reflection, many of us turn to prayer for guidance and support for our cherished desires. However, we often discover that the answers we receive aren’t always what we expected. Even when we do get what we think we want, a lingering sense of dissatisfaction can still shadow our hearts.

In the grand scheme of things, God understands our deepest longings and the complexities of our desires, which often go beyond our own comprehension. Instead of granting us the material possessions or specific outcomes we often ask for— silver and gold—He provides us with something much greater and more enriching. God's intentions exceed our immediate desires, guiding us toward growth, understanding, and fulfillment that we may not have even realized we were seeking.

With the Bible now in his hands, I sincerely hope it brings him what his heart truly longs for. This sacred text has the promise of transformation, offering light to dispel the shadows of despair that may have surrounded him. Just as the lame man was miraculously lifted up and empowered to walk anew, I pray that this individual finds strength and direction through the teachings within those pages. May the words inspire him to turn away from his past actions and guide him toward a path of righteousness, illuminating his journey with hope and love, pulling him out of darkness and into the warmth of light.