Finding Treasures at the Lake
A Reflection on Spiritual Discovery
During a vacation at a cottage at a Lake Ontario beach, I spent countless hours watching boats and swimmers, reading, and writing, sitting on a deck that overlooked the shimmering water. Below the edge of the deck lay a narrow stony beach where the occasional passerby would stroll to or from a nearby small public beach.
A Teenage Treasure Seeker
On our first evening, I noticed a young teenage girl at the water's edge close to the deck. She was friendly, engaging in conversation with a woman and her granddaughter, while persistently sifting through the sand and pebbles. Taking breaks to splash in the water and swim near the shore, she continuously returned to her pebble sifting at the water's edge.
Later, I heard her chatting with an elderly man seated with his feet in the water, his pant legs rolled up. She splashed playfully while showing him a partially filled soda pop bottle, explaining that she was searching for "beach glass." I overheard her mention that she sells small, colored pieces of glass that the waves have smoothed. I recognized that this outgoing young woman was a treasure seeker.
The following day, she returned. When I smiled at her, she greeted me with a friendly hello and asked about my vacation. I learned that her name was Alisia. She was visiting her grandmother, who lived nearby and spent her summers by the beach. Throughout the day, we engaged in on-and-off conversations. She continued her search for glass, swam in the lake, and chatted with others.
A Friendly Entrepreneur
Curious about her collecting, I asked Alisia about the various containers she pulled in her little wagon along the shore. She explained that she fills them with bits of beach glass, selling her finds to a quaint seasonal shop in the village. She also fills small bottles with colored glass and pebbles for people looking to buy them directly.
Throughout our three-day stay, Alisia frequently returned to her spot near our deck, balancing her time between searching for glass and swimming. We shared many conversations about her family, pets, and her glass-hunting endeavors.
What struck me most was her diligence in digging for treasures. Yet, she also made time to splash in the water and converse with everyone she encountered. I saw a lesson of balance for us adults: she didn’t allow her “work” to overshadow the simple pleasures of life.
Alisia knew that treasures were hidden among the sand, pebbles, and stones at the lake’s edge. She moved about, sifting with her hands to uncover the tiny pieces of beach glass, which were invisible until she dug for them.
Sifting Through the Bible
This experience reminded me of reading the Bible—much like sifting through the sand for treasures, I can dig in to Scriptures to discover the riches that God has for me every day. At first glance, they may not be immediately apparent, but they are indeed there, waiting to be found. God offers a special treasure in His Word every day.
Alisia needed little time to find smooth, colored glass—often discovering a piece every minute. And I, too, find that I needn't search long and hard. When I approach God with an open heart and immerse myself in His Word, He speaks to me. Every day, He reveals at least one treasure.
Alisia arrived at the beach expecting to fill her containers with beach glass. Sort of like faith! As she sifted, she discovered a spectrum of colors.
Treasure Your Own Spiritual Discovery
Let’s aspire to approach God’s Word with the same type of anticipation, believing that God will reveal spiritual treasures to us.
Matthew 13:44 reminds us that the kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field.
Jesus told the story of a man who found a valuable treasure hidden in a field and buried it. Then, full of joy, he sold everything he had and bought that field. The treasure then became his. This man understood the worth of what he had found.
Dig in and discover the value hidden in Scripture. Its treasures will change your life.