“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure buried in a field, which a person finds and hides again, and out of joy goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.”
Matthew 13:44 (NAB)
The Israelites went through extensive humbling while they wandered through the wilderness. They were hungry, thirsty, hot, and bitten by snakes. They missed the comforts of home, like their own bed, their favorite foods and the abundance of drinking water.
After being enslaved in Egypt, they were finally free and heading for their own promised land. God had many treasures in store for them, but instead of seeing their journey as a path to a blessing, they saw the wilderness as the worst thing that could ever happen to them. They were dwelling on the problems of their journey instead of the promise of their destination.
In 2019, I went through a type of wilderness when my late husband was diagnosed with ALS and died within a year. The following year was the Covid pandemic and my church was closed for months. Then, I was furloughed from my job, and didn’t see much of anyone at all. I was living in a strange state of isolation, as was everyone else that year.
During that time, I wondered if I had any gifts, and how I could use them during the downtime. I’ve always read scripture, but that year, I started journaling whatever I learned, which led me to write meditations. Although I never sent them to anyone, I couldn’t stop writing, and it became my passion and my joy during that period of solitude. One day, the following year, I mentioned to my friend, Laura, that I was writing meditations. She asked me to send them to her, and so I did.
To make a long story short, soon there were friends of friends, receiving daily meditations, via group email and phone texts messages. My passion for writing continued to grow, and I still write a meditation each day. The first treasure that I discovered hidden in my wilderness, was a love for writing.
The second treasure that I found during that period of isolation was a relationship with the Holy Spirit. I began to talk to Him every day, asking for direction, wisdom, and inspiration before writing, and that’s how the meditations kept flowing. I created a website and posted all my meditations on the website called
kissedbythespirit.com
In 2023 I entered an unexpected new wilderness, when my adult son, Jon, had a serious motorcycle accident. He went through brain surgery, two weeks in a coma, and is now awake but living in a long term care facility, relearning how to walk and talk. There are still many unknowns regarding his prognosis, but he is making gradual progress.
The Holy Spirit opened my eyes to something while I was visiting his Nursing Facility one day. As I looked around, I saw other people who would sit alone, receive no attention and never have a single visitor. That was the day I discovered a third treasure, hidden in Jon’s place of residence. It’s the treasure of being able to befriend the friendless.
The residents responded so happily to the smallest thing I would say or do. Whether it’s a smile, a wave, a hug, or simply greeting them by their name, it was like giving them the gift of dignity. Some residents just wanted to be listened to, and to tell their own story, but every visit gave them some attention and a treat.
Whatever kind of wilderness we are in, it helps to remember that it’s a journey, not a final destination.
The Holy Spirit taught me to look outward, to see those who were around me, and that’s how I found the treasures that were hidden in each wilderness.
I’ve learned that to find our purpose in any wilderness, it requires looking outside of ourself. If I dwell on own my losses, problems and frustrations, I would surely become depressed. The Holy Spirit is the Comforter, and we receive His comfort for a purpose, so that we can comfort others.
We each have our own unique mission as we journey through our own unique wilderness, but we are all heading towards one common destination, which is heaven.
An older man used to sit in a church pew, looking at the altar, praying long after the services were over. He was asked one day by his minister, “What are you hoping or praying for?” He answered, “Nothing, I just look at Jesus and He looks at me.”
That’s the spirit of adoration. Prayer doesn’t always have to be filled with frantic requests. If we spend a little time looking at Jesus, He looks back at us and shows us where to look to find the next hidden treasure that is waiting for us.
Lord, as we journey through our current wilderness, open the eyes of our heart to see you in those around us, so that we may find the treasures hidden there. Amen