Being and becoming the hidden treasure.
(26.02.24)
Recently it occurred to me that it is very
likely that nothing I ever write or say or do is going to become viral. The fact that this thought occurred to me at all is revealing. It means that at some stage I must have hoped or dreamt about writing a book or article, or of giving a video talk, that several hundred thousand (or a few million) people would find fascinating and want to share with all their friends. Well, I’ve been writing and speaking in various public forums now for close to forty years and it hasn’t happened yet, so I’m not holding my breath. As I was pondering the peaceful thought of never gaining online celebrity status, another thought occurred to me: ‘you are the hidden treasure’.
This thought, prompted by the one-line parable in Matthew’s gospel, felt like an affirmation from the Spirit: ‘Phil, your ministry is to the one or the few, those who will occasionally stumble across your path and find something in your life and journey that is immensely helpful for theirs’. I realised in that moment that significance and service are indeed to do with the quality of our lives and their relevance to some rather than the quantity and scope of our public social profile.
I wonder what your hidden treasure is and what it looks and feels like for you to know and to hear that you have blessed one or a few people in your life? Last Sunday evening, we heard a knock on the door that connects our living space to that of our eldest son, daughter-in-law and two grandsons on our shared property in the Adelaide Hills. Claire went to answer and found that our 5-year-old grandson had come over to tell her that he loved her and that she was ‘the best granny in the world’. Well, she’s the best granny in his world and neither she nor he need a large group of anonymous, online ‘friends’ to validate that essential truth.
May you own life and gifts become a fruitful and joyful discovery for someone this month.
A message from the Author
