The Catholic Writers Guild

 As I was reading a meditation for the feast of Our Lady of Guadalupe I was struck by a tidbit that the author included.  In his witness Juan Diego reported that on the barren winter hill of Tepeyac the sparse rocks that Mary stood upon, as she spoke to him, were turned to gold.  How attracted we are to things which come out of the earth that are precious and rare.   I must sheepishly admit that this thought exposes my attraction, too, as well as a new addiction that I have developed since retiring.  Folks like me have a lot of time to channel surf and there is a never ending stream of weird and crazy stuff on reality TV.

Lately I can’t turn away from two types of shows: there are people out there who are practically standing on their head, financing away their lives and sacrificing all close relationships for the sake of “finding” two things: gold and precious gems. Watching the hunt is mesmerizing!  On selected channels you can see these folks in the Klondike, the Bearing Sea, the jungles of South America, the countries of Latin America as well as the more remote areas of Africa, all the while seeking gold and/or gems. Conditions are harsh and danger lurks from natives who are not pleased to see foreign faces arrive to scoop up the supply of native riches.

All of these “hunters” in their situations share a surprising list of similarities. In each case, the hunt is incredibly difficult.  For instance, the miners in the Klondike must process literally tons of earth for the sake of finding a single ounce of gold.  In South America miners dig pits by hand that can be up to a half mile deep and then dig a horizontal tunnel while moving tons of earth for the sake of one ruby or emerald.  In the Bearing Sea divers spend up to eight hours in the frigid water while seeking gold the size of salt grains.   Equipment breaks down, rebels with guns lurk, temps drop to subzero, men get sick, some die, yet the hunt goes on.

So how do my TV habits relate to the spiritual life?  From multiple passages in the bible and examples like the one cited above I have learned that God also views certain things as precious in their rarity. You might recall that there is scripture that describes the “final” temple as adorned with courses of gold and precious gems.  He respects beauty and finds a place for it in worship.  When we adorn things with rarities to honor God it’s almost like giving back with a smile and a thank you! But we are not to worship the beauty itself.  In every case the beauty these men are seeking is incredibly difficult to locate, to obtain and then to finally possess.  Clearly the things we seek have the power to shape our thinking, behavior and our lives.

God in all of His attributes is the real contradiction that we should be looking for. He is more precious than silver, more costly than gold or any gem.  The contradiction is that He’s not hard to find.  He does not cost millions, or our life savings, our homes, our families or our health.  You do not have to rip the landscape apart to find him.  No costly equipment is required.  All you need is desire.

So, what are you seeking?  Is it shiny and does it dazzle the eye as well as the mind?  Does it occupy your every thought and take up all of your energy in lieu of everything else?  If that is the case you need to do a serious re-examination of your seeking.  Even the desire to have and protect “family” is not what the Lord asks of us.  All he asks is that we desire and love him first and foremost.  From there, that is the drive that will shape our lives and send us where we are supposed to be.  It’s most likely not in a half mile hole hoping for that mega sapphire or “mother load” of gold!

KathrynCunningham

Kathryn is a retired junior high teacher. A convert with a love for the Church she believes that its teachings have a more than viable application for today's world. She writes practical theological for the people in the pews believing that they have as much right to good catechesis as our youth and converts. Her writings appear on Catholic web sites and local Church publications. She has even been published in the diocese of Australia and most recemtly Zenit. Kathryn holds a Master's in Theology and is a certified spiritual director. Learn more about Kathryn at: www.atravelersview.org