Treasures

The grain of mustard seed – the smallest of all the seeds, breaks through a weedy patch to become the largest of all the bushes and offer shelter to many birds. The tiniest amount of yeast can raise flour into bread and yield enough to feed a town. The smallest pearl in its natural purity, stands out among counterfeit gems, and has far greater value than everything we own. An unexpected treasure, found in the field of our lives will require everything we have to mine, hone and protect.(Matthew 13:24-43)

Each of these parables requires that we go all out to pursue. The price for the treasures of God is everything we have. Who are we to be purchasing pearls? To be selling the farm for some little thing we found in a field? To be wasting all our yeast to raise barrels of flour to make bread for strangers? Who would plant a mustard seed that results in an invasive plant of little value instead of fig trees or olive groves?

And none of these would get any attention or credit for our decision; no, rather most would result in rolled eyes and derisive remarks. It takes courage to know and follow God’s will. To break from the crowd whose numbers may provide safety and shelter, is risky. To be willing to say and do the right thing when the crowd exhorts us to follow what we know in our heart just doesn’t feel right. Isn’t that the Spirit speaking to us…it just doesn’t feel right? It’s a quiet thing in the midst of the chaos and noise.

When it all comes true

Just the way you'd planned

It's funny but the bells don't ring 

It's a quiet thing

When you hold the world

In your trembling hand

You'd think you'd hear a choir sing

It's a quiet thing 

There are no exploding fireworks

Where's the roaring of the crowds

Maybe it's the strange new atmosphere

Way up here among the clouds… 

(Kander and Ebb, "It’s a quiet thing") 

Jesus reminds us that what’s really precious and invaluable may likely be judged as worthless junk by some folks, yet likely to require a great deal from us. All the stories in our readings ask us to make ourselves available to God.

It’s the cutting edge of making choices,

splitting what you choose from what you don’t choose.

And making your choices will set you apart

from others, even friends and family.

This is the work of becoming your own self.

When your choices upset those around you

it may be because you’re being foolish.

But it may be because you’re making your choices

instead of letting them. It will be like this.

Abandon that owned self, and find your own self.

Listen deeply to God.

Let God alone lead you.

Make yourself available to God

as an instrument of righteousness,

and know that even as you let go of your life

you receive life.

-Steve Garnaas-Holmes