Greed, Glory, Gold

It’s what dreams are made of, and it happened on this day in history – January 24.

It’s huge. One of the most spectacular events to hit California in the 19th century. The foreman of a lumber mill was working at Sutter’s Mill lumber yard. In the tailrace (yeah, I had to look that word up – the water flowing under the mill’s dam or water source) … in the tailrace, a shiny, little piece of metal was found.

Gold.

And it all began … thousands descended on Northern California, over 300,000 is the estimate. Eventually, over 750,000 pounds of the dream maker was found. That’s about 14-15 Billion dollars in today’s economy. Now, it sits in a bank in the middle of Beverly Hills in somebody else’s name.

But devastation happened too. The California genocide took place where some guess souls from 10,000 to up of 100,0000 were lost. Mostly Inuits and Native Americans. Many were used as slaves to work the mines.

Such is the story of the California gold rush of 1849. It all started on January 24, 1848.

And to think, this is where one of the Super Bowl LIV contenders gets their name. It’s the gold miners against Native Americans all over again.

Outside of historical trivia, what does this teach us?

Shiny trinkets. Sparkling baubles. In the end, it makes little difference. We can’t take it with us. As a wise man once said, it’s all meaningless, vanity. And the lives destroyed seeking the trinkets and baubles make it even sadder.

But there is a place we can store treasure that won’t be lost, won’t be meaningless, and will impact others for the positive – we can store up a treasure in heaven.

So live with eternity in mind. Live trying to help others through service and love. The Gold Rush lured us with greed and for self-glory. We are to live with grace and for God’s glory.

What’s really valuable to you?

Have a blessed weekend!