My heart stands in awe of Your words.  I rejoice at Your Word as one who finds a great treasure. Psalm 119:161-162

In the mid-nineties, I dropped by Pier One on the day of their best clearance sale.  I was shopping for a very large salad bowl and went straight to the dinnerware section.  In front of me was a beautiful blue and white bowl.  It was 75% off and a real steal.  I was thrilled and made my purchase.  Years later, I still love it.  The bowl now has quite a history.

I’ve used it to serve a main dish kind of salad when I’ve fed a lot of people at our table.  A salad for twelve people was no problem.   When it wasn’t in use, it was on display.  It graced the middle of our kitchen table. Or, it was placed in the middle of our stove with lights overhead shining down on it.  But most of the time, it sat on the counter with ‘stuff’ in it. Bananas, raisins, good chocolate, nuts, licorice, trail mix, apples, and pears.  Always stocked well and the contents constantly switched up. 

Now, here’s the fun part.  Our family has always headed straight for the bowl whenever they walk into the house.  Adults and kids alike, it’s calling their name.  There’s a quick greeting, ‘Oh hey, Nana!’, and then there’s a collective beeline made for the bowl.

Just say the words ‘blue bowl’ in our house, and everyone feels happy. 

This is not unlike what happens to my spiritual senses when I approach the scriptures on a good day.  When my spiritual hunger is engaged and my need are worn on my sleeve, I can’t wait to mine for gold.  I never know what I’m going to find.  I keep digging until I’m given just the right ‘word’ for the day.  God keeps His word stocked – full of surprises – and loves it when I find the treasure.

I know this is just a foretaste of ‘pleasures forevermore’ that will be waiting for me one day.  When I finish exhaling the earth’s air and inhale celestial air, this will be the moment when my appetite is completely satisfied.

Feed me.  Satisfy my cravings.  Delight me.  In You are pleasures forevermore.  Amen