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A young bride was struggling with her cooking. Nothing seemed to work. Her husband came home one day to find her in the kitchen crying. “The dog ate the biscuits,” she sobbed. He put his arm around her and said, “That’s ok honey, we can get another dog.” Have you ever eaten something unusual? The French entertainer, Michel Lotito, known as Mister Eat-It-All, was famous for consuming large quantities of indigestible objects. Like my daughter when she was two. Michel’s performances involved the consumption of metal, glass, rubber and other materials. Lotito’s method for eating all of this metal was to break it into small pieces before swallowing it. Throughout his unusual career, Michel chowed down 18 bicycles, 15 shopping carts, 7 televisions, and 8 chandeliers. He ingested 2 beds, 1 pair of skis, 1 Cessna aircraft, 1 coffin, 1 computer and innumerable smaller items. It is estimated that between 1959 and 1997, Lotito ate nearly nine tons of metal. He died of natural causes (I find this hard to believe) 10 days after his 57th birthday. Now I hope Michel left a good legacy for his family. But his story reminds me of a question we need to ask if we’re going to live with joy. What will be remembered for?

In 1873 people lined the streets of London to mourn the passing of the celebrated missionary doctor to Africa, David Livingstone. As the body was carried to its final resting place, one man wept openly. A friend consoled him, asking if he had known Livingstone well. “I weep not for Livingstone,” the man said, “I weep for myself. Livingstone lived and died for something. I have lived for nothing.” Livingstone’s life motto was this: “I will place no value on anything I have or possess, except in its relationship to the kingdom of God.” What a life. What a legacy. The chances are good that our names will never appear in the record books. And it’s unlikely that people will line the streets to mourn our passing. But we can change the world for a few people today, by using the gifts and talents we’ve been given, by living a life that points people to Jesus. “You are the salt of the earth,” Jesus told us Matthew 5, “You are the light of the world…let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.”

Let’s give some time today to things that last. God’s love is in us; let’s let some out today. Find out what you do well, and do it. You’ll bring joy to others? And if the family pet leaves the room during dinner, you may want to look for your spiritual gift outside the kitchen.

Phil Callaway

Phil Callaway, the host of Laugh Again, is an award-winning author and speaker, known worldwide for his humorous yet perceptive look at life.

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