The Best Treasure Hunt

As we walked along the shore, their eyes lit up with delight. The tide had washed up hundreds of small crabs and sand dollars. Without even thinking there could be any danger, my almost 3 year old picked up live crabs with his pudgy little fingers. “Look Mama! It won’t hurt you! He is nice.”

And without another thought he dropped it into his purple bucket to join the other treasures he had found along the shoreline.

The older boys ran ahead with their cousins, squealing and laughing with delight as they scooped up all sorts of beach treasures into their buckets to show off when they returned to the towels. The excitement of the treasure hunt had them all racing to the next discovery of shells or sea life, with as much zeal and pleasure as the first discovery.

I cannot help but think of the time the disciples shooed away the children who crowded around Jesus and Jesus’ response:

“Permit the children to come to Me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. Truly I say to you, whoever does not receive the kingdom of God like a child will not enter it at all.” Luke 18:16-17

There is something about the response of children that we tend to lose as we grow up. I think it is the wonder and excitement of the treasure hunt, where all else that seems more important is abandoned in the hunger for experience and the joy of discovery.

“The kingdom of heaven is like a treasure hidden in the field, which a man found and hid again; and from joy over it he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.” Matthew 13:44

Sometimes we need to let go of the schedule, let go of the potential danger, let go of the practical reasoning of being a grown up, and go on the adventure of the treasure hunt of experiencing Jesus again. Our souls are starving for the squeals of delight and all consuming wonder of discovering God. Sure, we have lots to do on the “list.” We have responsibilities and jobs, kids to care for, and money to make and manage. We have ministries to run. We have good worthwhile things to do.

But all these things can wait while we get lost in the beautiful moment of discovering who He is. It isn’t a one time experience. We are called to keep and cultivate this child-like wonder and delight in our God every day. Just like the hunt for crabs down the seashore, there is so much to discover and enjoy about God. I pray for all of us that we would become like children again in our eager pursuit of knowing God.