Daily Devotional for June 17, 2021

Don is a member of our church.  He’s really, REALLY smart. 

On more than one occasion, I’ve asked Don to explain his research to me.  Sadly, he always has to stop when I start crying because he’s using words I’ve never heard before.  I don’t understand what he’s talking about.

Recently, Don sent me an article on a man who has touched most of our lives.  And while Spencer F. Silver may not be a household name, you will recognize his accomplishment.

Listed below is a portion of Don’s article.  The words you don’t understand, Don will explain.

“Silver found that when he made an acrylate copolymer in a particular way, it formed a suspension of microscopic spheres that were cross-linked to one another.  Surprisingly, the microspheres didn’t dissolve in solution but instead swelled to twice their original size.  The microspheres didn’t clump when they were sprayed onto or coated a surface.  When a mixture of microspheres and solvent were applied to a surface, the solvent evaporated and the spheres returned to their original size.”

Understanding the significance of Silver’s findings, his colleague, Art Fry realized he needed a bookmark with an adhesive to mark his place in his hymnal during choir practice.  This is how the Post-it Note came into being.

This got me thinking.

Before reading the article, I had never heard of Spencer F. Silver.  But there are a lot of people who have impacted my life that I have never heard of.

In the seventeenth century, English author John Donne wrote, “No man is an island.”  Truer words were never spoken.

While we want to live in the delusion that each of us is truly self-sufficient, the reality is we depend on many others to make it through the day.  Many unknown, unseen, and unheard people touch our lives.  They make life better.

So today, give thanks for the many Spencer Silvers that have improved your life.  God put them there for a reason.

Paul said, “First of all, then I ask that requests, prayers, petitions, and thanksgiving be made for all people.”  (1 Timothy 2:1)

Just like many unknown people have touched your life, you will touch others.  Make it count.

Prayer:  Dear Gracious Heavenly God, use me to make this world a better place.  I offer you my meager talents and abilities.  I pray I make you smile.  In Jesus’ name I pray.  Amen.

God wants to use you to touch people you’ve never met.  All you have to do is say yes.

Also, if you ever want to have a wonderful conversation, talk to Don.  And unless you went to MIT, you probably won’t understand everything you are talking about.  But it will be a wonderful conversation.

Don’s always are.

I pray your day is filled with joy and laughter.
Tom Robbins