Monday, May 23, 2011 - Trail Treasure

     For the culminating activity of my third-grade homeschool French class's eight week study on la foret (the forest), I planned a nature walk.  To avoid the disappointment of not seeing anything for which we had learned vocabulary, I bought some fake insects and animals and placed them at different places along the trail: butterflies (les papillons), a blue-jay (un geai bleu), some caterpillars (les chenilles), a lizard (un lezard), a snake (un serpent), a spider (une araignee) and so forth.  The odd and blessed thing was that the students had a harder time spotting the fake animals for all the real ones along the path.  It seemed either nature was unusually active that day, or we were unusually alert with our binoculars, pens and notepads.  By the end of our walk we had seen all of the animals on our list except for "le serpent" - ("grace a Dieu!" - praise the Lord!).  My fake animals had to be pointed out to the students and served only as take home reminders of the real treasures of the trip.

     Jesus Calling reminds us that God has planned our path for this day and "There are hidden treasures strategically placed along the way. Some of the treasures are trials, designed to shake you free from earth-shackles.  Others are blessings that reveal My Presence: sunshine, flowers, birds, friendships, answered prayers."  

     Lace up your hiking boots and grab your Indiana Jones hat. Pack a shovel, your first aid kit and your Bible. Get your binoculars, a notepad and pen. We've got some exploring to do and some trail treasure to find. We've got a God to know better.

     "My purpose is that they may be encouraged in heart and united in love, 

so that they may have the full riches of complete understanding, 

in order that they may know the mystery of God, namely Christ, 

in Whom are hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." 

Colossians 2:2-3

Father,Treasure Planter, Lord of Heaven and Earth, Creator of all the wonders of the universe, God of Love, High and Lifted up -  keep us from settling for shallow or fake treasures and missing the real ones You've placed on each of our paths. Change our desires from earthly to heavenly. Help us identify true treasure and exchange our keepsakes for new experiences with You.  Wipe out our spiritual nearsightedness and remind us You're always working with a different perspective than ours and help us find and value the treasure You hide in our trials. 

In the Name of Jesus, our True Treasure in Whom is "hidden all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge."

Inspired by Jesus Calling 

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