Simple Treasures
One of my favorite things to do in the summer is to go fishing. On one particular fishing adventure this summer, I was Tenkara fishing (just a pole, line and fly; no need for reel or entomology degree) on little creeks high in the mountains. The head waters at high altitudes are beautiful. The water is crystal clear, the scenery is breathtaking, and the fish are wild. Because the creeks are small it’s simple to fish and easy to be successful. Simply lay your fly out on the water, watch it float down and then you can actually see the trout attack it. It’s hard to explain why this is so satisfying, but it is. It’s exciting, anticipatory, and beautiful. The scenery is beautiful, the fish are beautiful and, well, it’s just good.
My favorite Bible verse is Psalm 34:8: “Oh, taste and see that LORD is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.” This verse for me is like fishing in high mountain creeks. It’s simple, beautiful, and rich with goodness. I believe the Christian life is meant to be deeply experiential. The Lord wants us to taste and see His goodness. Again, like fishing, it’s hard to explain why it’s so satisfying, but if you experience the goodness of God, you get it. And we are blessed when we take time to be with Him. When we spend time reading the Word, we experience what the authors of the text experienced. We learn to have an active relationship with the God of the universe who deeply loves us and wants us to experience His goodness.
This summer, I hope your family was able to find simple treasures of God’s goodness that deepened your union with each other and the Creator. Maybe it was in an alpenglow, staring at the milky way, sharing stories around a campfire, or eating ice cream. I am so excited to hear all the stories from the students about their summertime adventures.
