Depreciation

May 15, 1979
12:05 PM

Value remains the same, but I cause appreciation and depreciation. (A strange statement!) In the realm of the spirit a value is and remains. Depreciation is my thinking less of something or someone… attributing less value. Is this important for me to do? Jesus said, “Judge not, that ye be not judged.” Does this say that as I depreciate someone, I too am depreciated? A fine situation for one “required” to judge!

Appreciation is the other side of the coin… giving something or someone more value than they have. Life is a balance, movement on a fulcrum. In God’s eyes value remains constant, but people appreciate and depreciate one another. The one brings forth the other.

As a person is depreciated, she is now in the best place for appreciation. Peter, the disciple, was one moment the Rock on which the Church would be built and another the personification of Satan, brandishing temptation. Peter became the Rock, but the Holy Spirit had to teach him that “all things are good”. He had to depreciate one set of habits to appreciate his relationship to the Lord through new church members.

Depreciation is hard, sometimes. I would rather not judge… just let values be what they are. But this is God’s seat… vantage point… I am not “there” yet. I must depreciate and then look for the opportunity to appreciate. As I depreciate, I am depreciated. But as Christ went down to Sheol and then rose to Glory, so I must live life in the earth. The golden mean, the eternal value, is god’s and, though I realize this, I am not yet privileged to act this out.

To know that “all are the same” is an underlying, secret answer, at which I can occasionally peek. But then I must depreciate and appreciate… judge and be judged. My life must be in form like Christ’s. It is in being me that I become Christ.

End of story.
12:46 PM

(This is the fifth missive penned by Bob Russell after he “cut his deal” with God that he would dedicate the first hour of his day to a “writing meditation” for the next 30 days.
This missive was penned and written only by Bob Russell)