A Treasure Within

But we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassingness of the power may be of God, and not from us.  -- II Corinthians 4:7 (Darby)

Our bodies and our lives are filled with a great treasure.  Treasure doesn't typically just lay about on the surface where anyone can just come along and pick it up.  Treasure is normally hidden and it must be searched out in order to possess it.  With a few legal exceptions the rule of "finders keepers, losers weepers" holds true.  So, within the earthen vessels (our bodies) God gave us rests a treasure.  What is it?

Truth be told there are a lot of treasures we walk around with everyday, treasures of which we might not even know.  There is the treasure of being alive.  Nobody can explain what life is exactly - whither it comes or whither it goes, it just is.  Most of us effortlessly take a breath and never think about it.  Breathing is a treasure.  Like so many of our treasures, we may not really appreciate their value until we lose them.  I've watched people not being able to breathe.  Breathing without having to think about it is a real gift!  People in our life are a treasure.  Sure they may be difficult at times, or we may not really think of them as a treasure - but again, when they're gone we may well think otherwise.

The power of The Spirit, of salvation, of spirituality, and the sensed sacred presence of God in our lives is a treasure.  We can't take credit for any of it.  God thought so much of us that Our Blessed Redeemer buried a profound treasure within our hearts and then left the Bible behind as a treasure map for finding that treasure -- God With Us.  Some of us work really hard to bury that treasure and keep it hidden, from ourselves and even others.  A few of us are a little too brash throwing the treasure out there bragging on it, as though it was our accomplishment or our doing.  (It is not.)  Most of us however, I think, could do ourselves well to spend some time in a quiet place thinking about the treasure God placed within us.  Hold that treasure in the hollow of your hand for a bit today, give thanks, and let it's richness lift your spirit, heart, and mind.

Prayer:

Eternal God, you give us grace to live our lives as we deem fit and appropriate.  Help us to find a time each day to cherish the treasure of you and your son have left for us.  In Jesus' name.  Amen.