Almost every morning I have a similar routine. I get up, spend a bit of time in prayer, I do some stretches, I run 3 miles, then I take Sophie, our golden retriever for a walk n’ stop. I say walk n’ stop because that is pretty much what it is. We walk a bit but then Sophie smells something that gets her full attention, so she stops to investigate further…which means I have to stop too. Some walks are better than others. But at least we both do get some fresh air and exercise.
The really fun thing about the walks with Sophie is seeing what the treasure is that she will find, and yes, there is always a treasure. Sometimes it’s simply a stick that she finds. One day it was a golf ball. Another day it was a ratty glove. Some days it’s a leaf or a piece of paper or cardboard lying beside the path that gets her attention. A while back it was a piece of “caution” ribbon from a construction site that she found – that was truly a prized possession. One day it was one of my gloves that fell out of my pocket. Being the dutiful retriever she proudly carried that glove all the way home to show Nancy. She even ran pretty much all the way back to the house just so she could get that treasure home!!
Yes, one of the surprises for me on those morning walks is…what’s going to be Sophie’s treasure. Then when she finds it or claims it, I find myself wondering what it was that made that item the treasure? Who knows! But it is a fun thing to see what her treasure will be.
That got me thinking about my own journey through each day. What’s the treasure that I found in recent days? Or a more revealing question might be, am I even looking for a treasure as I go through my day? The truth is sometimes I simply put my nose to the grindstone and just push through the day to get those immediate things checked off my “to do” list. Treasure hunting isn’t on my mind at all.
Yet, I wonder what a difference it would make in my journey through life if I approached each day with the attitude that somewhere…somewhere in the experience of this day there is a treasure just waiting to be found. Would it open my eyes with greater wonder, would I look around and see more possibilities, and would I see the adventure in each moment?
Today as we each make our way through the day, and even the week that lies before us, I would challenge myself…and each of us to look for a treasure, something of value to take from each day. Look for something unique that will somehow build meaning or value into your day and into your life. Look for a treasure that will help you learn something new, grow in your faith, or just gain a greater appreciation for God, your faith, another person, the gift of life, etc.
Sometimes the greatest life lessons are the simple ones…even ones learned from one’s pet, like our golden retriever. Today, I’m going to look for a treasure to take home!!! How about you??
Serving Together,
Pastor Keith