Tonight a dear friend was gracious enough to allow me to go treasure hunting. It had been many years since I took a metal detector out to a field and just walked around. How much different are they than they were 30 years ago. (And thirty years ago you could not tell the difference between a coin and TV dinner tray!)

So armed with one of the latest models of metal detectors and a little instruction, we headed to different parts of the meadow. It was only moments before the tones started indicating metal. First a nail…

I dug my first hole. While I dug I thought, there is a message here for me.

As I dug, excitement rose. I love the feel of dirt. (Not so big on the bugs.) As I dug the warm dirt my mind began to spin and slowly a picture of what I was doing began to take hold on a spiritual plane.

For years many have spoken of calling out the gold in a person’s life. It is the idea of prophesying over a person, declaring the “unseen” gold of destiny, giving them hope. But tonight I saw something new. (Please do NOT think I am denigrating the idea of “calling out the gold” as I am not.)

As I dug for treasure I thought, too often we see the gold in another. That is the easy part. It is one thing to call it out. But as I went through clumps of dirt to find a piece of metal, I thought this is a lot of dirt. And all for something tiny, something hidden. And my mind began to think the following.

We approach someone. And like the earphones of the metal detector toning, things begin to show, to be revealed to us. We continue to “circle” the subject, narrowing down the thought process and the area. Much like the process of the metal detector as one seeks to reduce the are of digging. Now all too often people who desire to prophesy or treasure hunt, call out the gift, the words, the destiny. But just because it has been revealed does not mean it is easily found or uncovered. As a matter of fact, all too often the person the gold has been called out of, does not see it. Or suspects “maybe it is true” but where, how much dirt has to be removed?

And isn’t that part of the problem? The individual does not see the gold inside. Or others do not or choose not to see and only speak of the dirt in a person’s life. Perhaps we tire of “knowing” the gold is there but not wanting to dig.

I took each clump of dirt and shook it out. Looking for something to shine or have a shape that would be recognizable. I would just keep digging. Now, in the essence of full disclosure, I did not find anything other than a couple of nails. Now my friend Paul found a number of things. Weights and buttons, coins, bullets, rings and brass shells. He did very well.

I thought about that. What was the reason for his success? First, he has experience. He understands his equipment. He recognizes the tones, can read the numbers and the graph allowing him to know where and what depth. And as he digs through the dirt he has an understanding of what he is looking for.

So, as I look at the spiritual dynamics of prophecy and the calling of gold out, I began to think that too often we “call something” out, but often times never take the time to continue to “move the dirt. And what if the word is in error? Encouragement is great, but what about the person who may place it all on a word, resting on the value of the word, carrying it like a badge and yet, it is still in the “ground”. (And words will be tested. Disappointment can set in.) What are we looking for?

I came to the conclusion that you may have to move a lot of dirt to find the treasure. The same is true with people. Will you be willing to go through layers of dirt (History, abuse and challenges.) to look and find the treasure? It is not enough to the “hear the “tone” but as you go to your knees to begin to dig, something changes. Many people require the continued prayer and serving of friends. Too often everyone is excited about the tone, but not so excited about the digging. Or the bugs (Stuff!). And even when you see it are you “sure”? (Last night Paul uncovered what appeared to be a set of weights. We both thought we knew what it was but only time will tell.)

I am thankful for my friend Paul. Not only did he provide me with a creative outlet last night, but I learned a lot of valuable lessons.

People are people. And the treasure you see is valuable. It may require some work to see it but it is worth it in the end.