Treasure
Hunt
By Karen D’Amore
“You will seek me
and find me when you seek me with all your heart.”
Jeremiah 29:13
As
he majestically grazes in the blizzard-draped arena, snow collects and coats
his massive antlers. With his regal posture intensified by his statuesque rack,
his presence personifies confidence, strength and assurance. His crooked-bent
front leg - - a remnant of an old injury - - makes him easily identifiable.
When he returned a few days later minus his
stately rack, I felt compelled to search for it. Faithfully visiting my
property for years, my beloved “bad-leg-buck” has consistently appeared when I
needed encouragement from the Lord. Significantly precious to me, finding his
rack would behold sweet sentiment.
Daily
“treasure hunts” have had me traversing miles of snow-encased, densely wooded
terrain, in search of the buck’s rack. Following innumerable deer tracks, I’ve
searched tirelessly each day, praying that God would lead me to the rack.
Though the antlers have yet to be found, greater treasures were discovered in
the hunt. God’s presence boldly emanated from every corner of the woods. With
the pristine snow dripping in the warmth of the brilliant sun, the essence of
God exuded from every source of nature surrounding me. Though my “needle in a
haystack” search may never yield the antlers…I’ll be perpetually drawn to
continue the hunt.
In
my most recent hunt, I was struck by a profound revelation. If I were to find
the antlers, my treasure hunts would end. And though I would possess the
antlers and revel in their sentiment, the daily quests amidst the
awe-inspiring…God-glorifying landscape…would cease. Turning my pursuit of the
antlers into a valuable object lesson, God redeemed those hunts as an
opportunity to poignantly reveal Himself. He impressed upon me the importance
of seeking Him moment by moment, day by day…as intently and tirelessly as I
sought the antlers. In a hunt for small treasured antlers…I found a far greater
Treasure. I found my endearing Lord!
When
we see God as the precious treasure that He is, we will be drawn to seek
Him…incessantly. The great promise to
those who seek Him is that “He will be
found” (1 Chronicles 28:9). And when He is found, there is great reward.
“Whoever would draw near to God must believe that He exists and that “He
rewards those who seek him” (Hebrews 11:6).
God himself is our
greatest reward…He is our greatest treasure! Are you fervently seeking Him?
"Let me seek you in
longing, and long for you in seeking. Let me find you in love, and love you in
finding."
– St. Ambrose of Milan
GOING DEEPER:
1. “Seek” is a verb, which implies action. How are you actively seeking Him?
FURTHER READING:
Married
to Dan, Karen, a retired police officer, currently works as a Manicurist at
Craig Berns Salon. She’s on the Oakwood
Women’s Ministry Special Events planning team and a volunteer at the Wildlife
In Need Center.
(1)Quote-faithfulthoughtspot.wordpress.com
