Trash or treasure?

 The water is a mucky shade of pea soup green.  At first glance there's nothing of value or worthy of notice.   It fails to arrest the attention of the casual passerby, yet beneath its surface a treasure of gold graces the murky depths.  One must stop, more than a pause, and ponder, more than the surface, before getting a clue that there is something very special contained therein.  If one takes the time to cast their shadow upon this place and patiently peers into the green abyss, a strange thing happens.  The deep mud green begins to change color.  A golden orange rises up and gets brighter and brighter until it breaks free of the surface and the onlooker is blessed by perfection and beauty as can only come from the hand of our wonderful Creator.

Perhaps you have guessed, or maybe not, that I am speaking here of the goldfish which garnish my algae laden rain barrel out back of my cabin. And now I think it possible, per chance, that a question has formed in your mind as to why I would call your attention to such a thing.  But, I can assure you it is not without purpose that I do so.

In early spring I thought it smart to set up a barrel beneath the drain spout and store some of April's abundance with which to water my garden in the drought of summer.  It was only days before I found the mosquitoes thought it good as well and readily took advantage of my provision.  They laid eggs which promptly became wrigglers and promised to provide a hearty swarm of biting pests to attend my cool summer evenings.  I've heard it said that for every problem there is a solution and while it's not often I find an easy answer I happily report in this case I did.  I purchased  a moderate school of assorted goldfish, moved them into my rain barrel and, voila!  Problem solved overnight.  

So what is my point?    I shall share more than one.  Nothing can be judged by it's surface, nor is it probable that casual contact will often be a great blessing.  

It is many the Bible, plainly clothed in the hide of an animal, that sits in a corner of some back shelf gathering dust, while the treasure contained in itsunturned pages rests unnoticed and unappreciated.  In today's world they are a dime a dozen, printed in every language, found in every hotel, and purchased with ease.  Most have no special decoration, glitter or bling, and no colorful pictures to catch the eye.  They look unappealing in there dark leather skin and so they are shoved to the back of a shelf in our homes and in our lives.  It is tragic and strange that this Book which found its way through the bloodstained ages of time, once cherished by countless Christians who gave their very lives for its preservation, is now met with so little regard. 

It is true that through a casual glance there is little to be gained from it.  For, it is only as one stops, more than a pause, and ponders more than the surface, that the sincere seeker is blessed by a perfection and beauty of life changing truth as can only come from the hand of our wonderful Creator.  

Bonnie Morsette ~ 8/10/2010