Uncontainable Treasure 3.6.11 (Extended Version) Sunday’s Inspirational Message
"Do not lay up for yourselves treasure on earth, where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." Matthew 6:19-21
True treasure like the light is uncontainable. It will somehow find a way to shine through or manifest.
Yesterday I left home to run errands. During the course of my travels I was blessed in several unexpected ways. What I experienced throughout the day encouraged me to begin each day with a spirit filled with the expectations of someone on a treasure hunt.
Some might consider the blessings small, especially if viewed against the backdrop of typical wealth and riches of immensely successful people with enormous wealth. But however minute you may perceive or evaluate a blessing, as the saying goes, “a little is a lot when god is in it”. What is initially regarded as a small blessing is magnified when viewed in the context of divine favor. Just because a gift or blessing does not enrich your pocket book or increase your bank account does not mean it has no value. When you thank god and express genuine gratitude for the smaller things without embarrassment or pause, you will be blessed with greater things—the desires of your heart.
Back to my story. I was headed back home after making my rounds for the day. While standing at the bus stop a lady approached me and asked if I wanted a transfer. Often, I see people around the bus stops offering others transfers in exchange for needed money for their fare on another route or for food so I immediately asked her if she wanted anything for it. She quickly responded no. I thought to myself that was nice of her. What a blessing, I thought, although I had my bus fare, and cab fare if I chose to take a cab home instead. I had already taken a taxi to the stop, so it was not so much that I needed the transfer as it was that I was blessed with an unexpected gift from a total stranger. Ironically, and much to my greater surprise, it would soon turn out that I would not even need the transfer because a greater gift would be given by someone else. Within a few seconds the bus arrived and I made an effort to place my transfer into the fare slot. The driver then gestured for me to stop and told me that it was okay. He then held out his hand which had been balled into a friendly fisted gesture of “high five” as he exclaimed with his now signature bubbly enthusiasm the word “Booyon” and told me to step on and show some love. I immediately recognized his face and there was no mistaking his zealous friendliness. I had ridden the bus with this driver several months ago. During that trip I told him that he was the best driver I had ever ridden with. He had gone out of his way to make every passenger feel comfortable and have an enjoyable experience. He even had inspirational music playing throughout the vehicle and the passengers really seemed to enjoy it.
After riding with him that first time I thanked him personally. I also took the time to put in a good word for him with his employer, the city transportation department. It was not only fortuitous that I got his bus yesterday, but an unexpected treasure.
The most rewarding thing about that entire experience was it demonstrated to me on both a small and large scale how one person in a position of leverage or authority can make a difference in the lives of others by letting their “light shine.” No matter how bad a day you might be having, the worries or challenges you may be facing, witnessing someone being so kind to others will influence your day in a positive way. I know it did mine. No matter how hard someone may try to take it away, discount, belittle or even undermine the experience, it can not be consumed by moths, deteriorated by rust, nor can thieves break in and steal the experience from me. The warmth it brought to my heart and connection it registered with the divine is a treasure.
I also during the first part of yesterday's outing, which I did not realize at the outset would evolve into a treasure hunt, browsed the bookstore where I first landed and came across Patti Smith’s latest book, “Just Kids”. When I read the book's liner preview and the back cover endorsement by Johnny Depp -- "Patti Smith has graced us with a poetic masterpiece, a rare and privileged invitation to unlatch a treasure chest never before breached"-- I was further intrigued. I guess a part of the intrigue was that Depp has been brought to my attention more these days because of buzz generated around the Grammy Awards appearance of John Mayer and his uncanny "so they say" resemblance to him. Mayer happens to be a musician for whose musical talent I have a good deal of respect. Depp is no doubt a fine actor who does not say a lot in the media. At least he has a reputation for substance. So, what he wrote about the book interested me.Turns out she lived in Detroit, found her true love and got married in the city. She is also a prolific writer, author of several books and an artist with drawing as a medium. I did not realize that all these years reading and hearing about her in the rock music scene. I made a mental note to place the book on my wish list and to check the public library for it as I was on my way there. When I arrived at the library, I had the reference librarian to do a search. It turns out the book had been checked out at that location. But it was available at another branch. So, I had the reference librarian to place it on hold for pick up later that day. Just scanning the books layout and theme inspired me with a book project. After that, I made my way to the video collection to browse the latest movies. I came across several latest release movies I did not expect to find there and checked one of them out. Incidentally, neither the book nor the movie cost anything. They were not on my list of things to pick up yesterday either.
I hope your day will be filled with expected and unexpected treasure. It can be found and often comes in the least expected package, not always visible with the human eye, defined by typical monetary valuations or physical boundaries. You know it when you see, feel or believe it.
Today the drawing "Uncontainable" with light shining through an old wooden treasure chest', I hope, illustrates the concept.
Copyright March 2011. Cynthia Wilson. All rights reserved.
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