Tuesday
Feb232010
Finding your hidden vein of gold
Tuesday, February 23, 2010 at 12:00PM Quite often, we're asked to be honest about our weaknesses and shortcomings -- job interviews ask us to disclose this, churches obsess about it, and accountability groups major on our failings. There's nothing wrong with being honest about our weaknesses, but there's something more worthy of our attention: it's the vein of gold within:
"Although men are accused of not knowing their own weakness; yet, perhaps, as few know their own strength. It is in men as in soils, where sometimes there is a vein of gold which the owner knows not of." -- Jonathan Swift
The vein of gold is where God focuses his attention: he is obsessed with what's most alive, radiant, and strong in you. A vibrant seam of gold.
Reader Comments (3)
I really like this, Jim.
A couple weeks ago I had one of those startlingly-real dreams. I was in a river in Alaska and it was shallow, clear, cool and very nice. And I was just walking through and I came upon a huge hunk of rough gold (the size of a football) ----so perfect and perfectly gold and shiny. I think people are best an most interesting in their most true organic form---and most valuable too...It just takes looking through a bit of cool water to see it...
Meredith
Wow, what a beautiful dream, Meredith. I like your idea that people are most interesting and at their best in their most organic (natural) form.
Jim,
It was very beautiful and peaceful. I woke to a start because it was so real I wan't sure where I actually was...I could feel a breeze and the cool water and there was greenery on the banks...exhilarating. I saw the hunk of gold and couldn't believe my eyes....
The philosophy of a person being their best in their natural state reminds me of "Gone with the Wind", oddly. Rhett told Scarlett that he remembers her from before the war and the war had "done things to her" and basically he missed who she really was....Well, by that time she and her family had starved, some of her family died, she killed a Yankee trying to hurt her in her home, and as a result was constantly worried for basic survival ...Although she was past those kind of hardships, it stayed with her...
I really think that as believers it's important to sort of get past crap...even church crap after dealing with it...And for me it has been a process of getting back to my gentler sweeter side before I was hurt there and return to the knowledge I had of God before I entered a church and everything went south. (No pun intended :0) It's hard! And I'm not there yet.
I like Psalm 45 for that. :0)
10 Listen, O daughter, consider and give ear:
Forget your people and your father's house.
11 The king is enthralled by your beauty;
honor him, for he is your lord.
Love that...
Hug Lynn for me!
Meredith