Digging

In 2nd Timothy 2, we are challenged to go deeper, to study God's Word - with purpose. We read:
15 Be diligent to present yourself approved to God, a worker who does not need to be ashamed, rightly dividing the word of truth.
16 But shun profane and idle babblings, for they will increase to more ungodliness.

Later in the chapter, we find this:
19 Nevertheless the solid foundation of God stands, having this seal: "The Lord knows those who are His," and, "Let everyone who names the name of Christ depart from iniquity."

We can be sure to have our antenna up to identify where God is working around us and what He wants to teach us, so that He can accomplish His work in us.  There are discoveries available to us, and we can be aware that there are divine encounters in which He desires to express Himself.  The Bible speaks of digging truth like silver - sometimes what He has to teach us will not be readily apparent, but He calls us to diligence.

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Proverbs 2 contains some powerful imagery about searching out the truth of God. We can read:
4 If you seek her as silver, And search for her as for hidden treasures;
5 Then you will understand the fear of the Lord, And find the knowledge of God.
6 For the Lord gives wisdom; From His mouth come knowledge and understanding;
7 He stores up sound wisdom for the upright; He is a shield to those who walk uprightly...

Around Christmastime, we can be inspired by the story of the real St. Nicholas, whose penchant for giving gifts became the basis for the figure we now know as Santa Claus.  Nicholas is also considered the "patron saint of travel" in the Eastern Christian tradition, according to a story appearing on the Faithwire website.

The article relates the recent discovery by a gardener in the Galilee region of a ring bearing an image of a smiling St. Nicholas.  The story states:

Dekel Ben-Shitrit inadvertently dug up a 700-year-old bronze ring bearing the image of St. Nicholas. Experts believe that the rare artifact was dropped by medieval-era pilgrims as they were making their way through northern Israel.

Ben-Shitrit, 26, was completing his daily work in the garden in Moshav Hayogev located in the Lower Galilee when he noticed something strange in the planting bed.

The young man actually posted a picture of his discovery on Facebook, looking for more information.  A neighbor saw the post and put young Dekel in touch with the Israel Antiquities Authority.

The Faithwire story goes on to say:

IAA member Yana Tchekhanovetz dated the ring to the time period between the Crusader and Mameluke periods—around the 12th to 15th centuries.

Tchekhanovetz said it was “amazingly well preserved and will contribute a great deal to science.”

He also related that, "...Christian pilgrims to the Land of Israel from all over the Byzantine Empire (Turkey, the Balkans, Greece and present-day Russia) would carry his icon to protect them from harm. It is probable that the ring belonged to a pilgrim who sought the protection of St. Nicholas on his travels..."

Oh, and the article notes that, according to the publication, Haaretz, the birthday of the young man who found the ring is...Christmas Day!!

This is a story that can cause us to think about the significance of discoveries we make in our lives.  Dekel could have just found this historic ring and cast it aside, but he chose to seek more.  Proverbs talks about seeking truth as one looking for silver - what God wants to teach us may be hidden, and we have to dig it out.  It may involve careful study and meditation on the Word; perhaps further research of a principle that He is wanting to relate to us.  We can choose to either skim the surface for Biblical truth, or choose to go deeper and then to contemplate what we find.

Also, we can be reminded that we have to be intentional to authenticate what God may be showing us.  What we discover or what we experience may be a key to spiritual growth or a tool through which God can direct us.  We don't have to be quick to cast aside occurrences in our lives; perhaps He is wanting to make Himself more real to us.  We can be attentive to the presence of God in what might be considered to be the ordinary ebb and flow of life  - He might have something special for us if we would only take the time to search and ponder.