I spent the better part of the summer visiting the shoreline of a beautiful lake.

From my favorite spot, I could view the lake and the beach from multiple vantage points.  I could stand from a hilltop and look down…

I could stand on the shore, up close…

I could even float in a kayak along the edge of the water…

And so, one day, I arose before dawn to watch the sunrise.  It seemed like the perfect fit as I read my Bible; something I enjoy doing before the rest of the world awakens.  Since the morning air was chilly, I lit a small fire to keep me warm.  I curled up in an outdoor chair with a cozy little blanket tucked around me as I contemplated the words I was reading. The sun peaked through the clouds as I glanced occasionally at the horizon where it rose.

Below me, I could hear the water lapping against the shore, which drew my gaze downwards to the sandy golden beach below.  Memories flickered in the corner of my mind as the fire danced to generate its heat.  My father would have so loved this spot.  He was a morning person and delighted in the rising or setting of the sun.  And he absolutely enjoyed the water…being in it, near it, or on it as he owned a few boats in his days.  In fact, if you gave him a river bed or a stony beach, you would soon find him hunched over searching for rocks.  While he was thrilled with the many different kinds, he was always hunting for the elusive Petoskey stone and the very hard to find, geode.

I could almost see the smile that would have arisen on his face that morning as he realized that the wind from the evening before had churned up more new rocks to explore. Here, the shoreline changes almost daily from the northeastern winds blowing over the waters.  The waves that crash onto the beach dig out the sand washing it to another place, leaving more new rocks exposed.  Rocks to hunt.  And somehow, hunting rocks has become a favorite past time of mine.  Maybe it is because, in doing so, my dad feels almost near.  When I find a particularly lovely one, it is as if I can see his smile and hear the enthusiasm in his voice as he admires the stone in his hand, all the while encouraging me to keep up the search because…look at what it yields!  What else might there be?

On this particular morning, I could see an abundance of stones from the hill.  Some had been there the day before, but I knew, from watching the shoreline change over time, new ones had likely been uncovered with the night’s wind.  And yet, with that knowledge, from where I sat, I could not discern what had changed.  I was too far away to observe that level of detail.  I knew I needed to draw closer to the shore to really tell, but instead, I patiently turned to back to the pages that were open in my lap.

Those words seemed to speak to the very thing that I had been pondering as I started the fire that morning.  And so, I hunkered down to contemplate just what they might be speaking to in my very life.  I pulled out my trusty dictionary and began to explore the words in depth, all the while, returning often to the verse that seemed to tug at my soul.  I slowed down and let the words soak in, not demanding that it make sense, not rushing forward dismissing what I didn’t understand, but instead waited, thinking on the different dimensions in my life that it might cover.  Sure enough, with some time, I was able to see things in my life that were reflected in those words…much like when a stone has caught my eye from the water’s edge, inviting me to pick it up, to come nearer and take a closer look…maybe even make it my own.

Below me on the shore, the waves wistfully reminded me with their gentle rolling that a new search awaited.  I finally could no longer resist, and down the stairs I descended
kicking off my shoes and quickly rolling up my pants to my knees.  Walking slowly along the water’s edge, I scanned the shore to see if anything of interest stuck out.  As the waves continued cascading onto the beach at a steady pace, I had to slow my search down to minimize the distortion in the water.  And even though I had drawn closer, I was still not close enough.  I entered the water to be able to spot what I was hoping for. Within moments, the brisk water was no longer cool to the touch, and the hunt became a little easier as I could truly see the rocks from the best vantage point. Hunched over the stones, I was able to look straight down at them with a renewed focus from a better angle.  As I stood there, scanning for that special gem, looking for what might be new and what I may have missed the day before, I was struck by the similarity rock hunting holds to what I had just left…

Time and contemplation in God’s Word.  Searching for how His truth might apply to my everyday life…

You see, had I only remained up on the hill, I would not have been in the position to find any new rocks nor be in the position to make them my own.  In the line of work that I do, I find that many are reluctant to open God’s word, to ponder it on their own.  Much like being on a hill, a distance away from the best perspective, a Bible on the shelf of a home is in the same position as the special rock down on the shore.  Even on a desk or book shelf, if never opened and thought on, it is oh, so far away.  Its truths cannot be absorbed; it cannot be made yours if it is never read and contemplated by you.  Those gems of truth lie dormant inside, shut away from bringing light to your eyes and your soul. Their ability to better a life must rest in waiting to be sought.

But, protests one, “I just don’t understand it when I open it.”  Another claims, “But I was not trained in studying it.”  Still another proclaims, “Better you than I, for I have so many more important things that need my tending.”  Some may be reluctant, from experiencing the harsh wrath of someone who has learned His words, but not how, when, or if it is best to use them; those who use Him only for their gain to slay or dominate, leaving pain, wounds and fear in the hearts of others. And some may be afraid they just won’t find Him there, possibly feeling that they are not worthy.

Yet, the beautiful thing about rock-hunting is that it is not restricted to only those who are certified and trained in geology.  All it takes is someone willing to seek them out.  You see, stones lie on the shores, in quarries, on hill sides, in parking lots, and landscaping beds. They are on mountaintops and in valleys low…abiding their time, almost always visible and ready to be seen, waiting for some soul to take notice.  Everyday people have unearthed fossils in their own backyards, and found stones and gems in places that have caused experts to be utterly speechless at their extraordinary finds.

When we first started hunting with my dad, he was ever so patient.  He would move down the river bed so much slower than us, hunched over, taking only a few steps at a time. While I loved hunting rocks with him, I gave up the hunt rather easily if I wasn’t rewarded quickly with a great find.  And yet, even after I floated past him bidding him good-bye, he continued to meander along. Sure enough, as we would meet at the river’s end, he would have a pocket full of amazing rocks to show and share.  Many of which he would later display on his desk at work…

Being in God’s Word is really not so different.

No matter how you enter it, by topic or just be opening it up and seeing where the page falls, it will contain a variety of truths–rocks, stones and pebbles, if you like the analogy–that can make your life better. They come in all shapes and sizes.  Some are identified by patterns, and others just by sparkle. Sometimes, it will be little truths that bring you joy, correction, hope, instruction, or delight.  Another set of words might change your whole mindset or direction on a topic or situation. Still, other times, you will be caught off guard by the magnitude of what you find, and those words may be enough to produce an amazing change within you, rippling out to effect the world that surrounds you.

When my dad passed away, he had little he could pass along other than the lessons of his life–his perseverance, his searches, his love, his steadfastness, and even his mistakes.   Those lessons are like the rocks that he found, treasured and shared.  Illustrations in different shapes, sizes and colors; those of varying magnitudes–ones that you can easily identify and others that require you to dig deeper to appreciate better what is to be gleaned.

And isn’t that true in life?

Our most powerful testimony to others will be our lives and the truths we choose to live.  Imagine what we might be able to uncover when we take His words off the shelf, brush off the dust, and draw near to them.  Before too long and with enough persistence, you may find those words daily beckoning you to come and search them out…

And when searching for rocks, remember they best come to light when bathed in water rather than dried upon the shore where dullness and sand often hides them. Consider His words and ways to be the water, the agent, that can best illuminate the way for your life…making it so much clearer, vibrant and inspiring to others as well as to yourself.

May your hearts and pockets be filled with the life changing truths, abundant inspiration and the joy that a good rock hunt can bring!

“Therefore everyone who hears these words of Mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.”  Matthew 7:24