Posts Tagged: treasure
“OF CHANGE, HEARTS, FULL MOONS, AND LOVELY SUNRISES”
Are you familiar with the Joe Raposo Sesame Street song? It has a nice, catchy tune and really profound lyrics.
“I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by
While lookin’ at my feet, at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by
While studying a brand new hole in my sneaker
And finding a quarter and an old bus token
I nearly missed a rainbow
I nearly missed a sunset
I nearly missed a shooting star going by
Looking down at the ground means you know where you’re going
No head up in the clouds to lead you astray
But you can’t ever have any kind of dream that way
Looking down at the ground means you know where you’re going
No head up in the clouds to lead you astray
But you can’t ever have any kind of dream that way
While looking at my feet at a crack in the sidewalk
An old tin can by the side of the road
I nearly missed a rainbow
Elmo nearly missed a sunset
I would’ve missed a shooting star going by
I nearly missed a rainbow
Don’t want to miss that sunset
I wouldn’t miss a shooting start going by
Passing me by
Passing me by.”
Sometimes, we all lose our focus.
So, I was waiting for my ride to the twelve-step meeting this morning. I was walking around looking for change in the parking lot at Planet Fitness, keeping one eye out for someone arriving for an early morning workout. People who haven’t had their second cup of coffee can be a little less than alert than they need to be.
I found a dime, which gave me great cause for rejoicing. It also inspired me to keep looking. No more money, I’m afraid.
And then it hit me: It was a cool, clear morning with a big bright full moon. The sun was already making its presence known, and there were some lovely fluffy clouds in the eastern sky, roughly the color of orange sherbet. And here I was, with my head down, looking for a few coins! I was missing the real treasure.
This is especially ironic because, just an hour or so before my treasure hunt, I had read the following words from Matthew 6:21, in my 3-Minute Retreat from Loyola Press:
“For where your treasure is, there also will your heart be.”
Then the retreat master for the day made these simple, yet profound, comments:
“Whatever we claim as treasure in our lives is where we put the bulk of our effort and energy. Over time we generally grow in understanding of what is really important to us, and we let go of some things in order to have the time and energy for things that are more important. For people of faith, treasure is found in the love God has for us, in our love for God, and in the love we have for others. The choices we make each day are based on what we treasure.”
I would only add that God’s creation is also something we should treasure.
So, I quit looking for coins in the parking lot, and instead spent a bit of time worshiping the God who made full moons, sunrises, and cool mornings.
DOWN TO EARTH BELIEVER
- “Even a Sliver of Light” April 9, 2024“For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ.” (2 Corinthians 5:6, English Standard Version) I missed the total eclipse yesterday. There were a number of good reasons for this, but […]
- “The Process in Miracles and the Miracle of Process” March 11, 2024“2 Kings 5:1 Naaman, commander of the army of the king of Syria, was a great man with his master and in high favor, because by him the LORD had given victory to Syria. He was a mighty man of valor, but he was a leper. 2 Now the Syrians on one of their raids […]
- “The Power of Encouragement—Even for Old People” March 10, 2024“But encourage each other every day while it is ‘today.’ Help each other so none of you will become hardened because sin has tricked you.” (Hebrews 3:13, New Century Version) Yesterday, I was walking at a nearby park. There was a large group of young people some of whom were running while other young people […]
- “Endurance” March 10, 2024“For you have need of endurance, so that when you have done the will of God you may receive what is promised.” (Hebrews 10:36, English Standard Version) “Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us […]
- “The Limits of Non-Judgmentalism” February 24, 2024“Matt. 7:1 “Judge not, that you be not judged. Matt. 7:2 For with the judgment you pronounce you will be judged, and with the measure you use it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2, English Standard Version) This morning, in my virtual 12-step meeting, we discussed the topic of judgmentalism. There were many wise […]
- “Delighting in Being Told What to Do?!?” February 23, 2024“Psa. 112:1 Praise the LORD! Blessed is the man who fears the LORD, who greatly delights in his commandments! 2 His offspring will be mighty in the land; the generation of the upright will be blessed. 3 Wealth and riches are in his house, and his righteousness endures […]
- “Character is the Real Lesson” January 19, 2024I am often confused about what lesson I’m really supposed to be learning. For example, this morning I was trying to knock out several Spanish lessons. My intentions were a lot better than my internet connection. I’ve done three lessons. Or rather, I’ve done two lessons. One of them I did twice because the internet […]
- “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked” January 1, 2024Each year, I try to come up with one word or a short phrase for what I intend to work on in the upcoming year. 2024 is “The Year of Becoming Un-Planked”. What?!! What does that even mean? So glad that you asked! Jesus said to his disciples, “Why do you look at the speck […]
- “Searching for the Noble One” December 26, 2023My wife and I were reading Luke, chapter 2 on Christmas Day. Luke 2 talks about the shepherds being told to look for this very special child—in fact, this King—in a stable. I prefer the word “barn”. I grew up on a farm. I know what a barn is. A stable is entirely too biblical […]
- “That Don’t Impress God Much” December 14, 2023DTEB, “That Don’t Impress God Much” “That Don’t Impress Me Much” (Song by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain) Micah 6:8 (MSG) “But he’s already made it plain how to live, what to do, what God is looking for in men and women. It’s quite simple: Do what is fair and just to your neighbor, be […]
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