A few days ago, I heard a story I keep returning to…
There was a police raid in Champigny-sur-Marne, a suburb east of Paris. Searching the home belonging to an aunt of a suspected drug trafficker, they found 20 kilograms of cannabis resin, luxury designer clothing valued at hundreds of thousands of euros, and €7,000 in cash…
They also discovered a stolen Picasso painting. French police found the artwork, believed to be a portrait of Marie-Thérèse Walter, Picasso’s muse and lover, worth an estimated 12 million euros… Totally unexpected!
My friend Tim lives in Overstrand in North Norfolk. After years of patient, persistent, painstaking research, he’s written ‘Seaside Homes and Fishing Boats’ that he describes as ‘A walk through Overstrand after the Great War’.
Tim tells stories of ordinary Overstrand people from a hundred years ago – fishermen, farmers, gardeners, shopkeepers. He has also unearthed fascinating stories of the great and the good – members of the royal family, Winston Churchill, notable figures from the worlds of art, theatre, politics and business…
Tim’s been finding the unexpected, discovering his ‘Picassos’.
My Christian faith constantly brings me back to the stories of Jesus. His mission statement was directed at the poor, the prisoners, the blind and the oppressed. He chose ordinary fishermen to follow him, welcomed religious and political extremists, intentionally included the diseased and the disgraced.
The ‘Picassos’ that Jesus discovered were not rare paintings or fascination historical facts, but people – recognising their value and potential.
So today I shall seek to be more aware – in the routine things that I do – gardening, reading, watching TV… in the ordinary situations I find myself – in the singing group, walking by the beach, having lunch with a friend… in conversations – with the wheelchaired lady, the whingy teenager, the weary neighbour…
I shall seek to be more aware because there may be a valuable Picasso to be found!
malcolmsmusings.org 
I am glad you say that Jesus welcomed the religious and political extremists.
I have a lot of respect for religions that accept other religions’ Gods.
I am also very pleased you included Winston Churchill among the great and good.
BE MORE AWARE is excellent advice. But, I can find the constant news of catastrophes abroad, constant warnings about the heat, constant showing of Burnham being sworn into Parliament too much at times.
My way of dealing with it is to not watch, which is perfect self-advice for Burnham’s “swearing in” and happy hugs with the Speaker of the House.
However, not the most philanthropic way of dealing with the horrid catastrophe in Venezuela for instance. But, I find knowing that as I write this, there are many human beings caught under piles of rubble probably waiting to die, too much.
I applaud the way you spend your life listening and helping others Malcolm.
When I was a youngster and deciding about my religious belief I felt the most attractive way for me to follow a God would be by entering a brotherhood. I still see that as the best way to give ones life to a chosen God. But, in retrospect, the most selfish way possibly.
Take care and enjoy the time we have left.
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