My Movie Camera

When I was a kid I always wanted a movie camera. I had a regular camera or I should say I adopted the family's camera and on outings I was the official family photographer. But oh, to have a movie camera. I would look in the Sears catalog at the great 8mm home movie outfits and think of all that I would film, if I had a movie camera. But the problem was always the price, way out of reach for a kid. I did have an older cousin that saved from a summer job and purchased a Kodak Super 8 movie camera. This gave me the opportunity to both direct and star in some of his memorable backyard productions. But, I never got my movie camera, it was one of the great disappointments of my life.

Now flash forward a couple of decades. I was recently poking around the local Goodwill store (a great place to pick up used books) and wouldn't you know it, right there on the bargain table was a perfectly working, Jelco U-8, Zoom 8mm movie camera, complete with carrying case and available for only $2.00! There is only one problem, the bargain camera came along about 25 years too late! What was once a treasure is now hopelessly obsolete. Kodak no longer even manufactures or processes 8mm film. What was once a treasure is now a relic from a by-gone time.

This has taught mea good lesson. What we desire today, of this world's goods, will soon be obsolete. Today's innovations are tomorrow's yard sale merchandise. Today's "must haves" will be tomorrow's, "junk." Today's newest model is tomorrow's antique. Today's common item is tomorrow's museum piece. Perhaps this will give us pause from the frantic materialism of our day and remind us all that the only things that truly last are what we do for our Lord. Jesus said it this way, "Lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt, and where thieves break through and steal: But lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust doth corrupt, and where thieves do not break through nor steal:" Matthew 6:19-20. Let's purpose to live for our God and walk with Him. Let's give renewed attention to the things that last. What are you doing to lay up treasure in heaven?

By the way if you would like to see my Jelco U-8, Zoom 8mm movie camera, its on display in my office. It helps me remember the true nature of "treasure."

Jesse Waggoner
Pastor, Calvary Baptist Church

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