“Heaven’s kingdom realm can be illustrated like this: ‘A person discovered that there was a hidden treasure in a field. Upon finding it, he hid it again. Because of uncovering such treasure, he was overjoyed and sold all that he possessed to buy the entire field just so he could have the treasure.’”
– Matthew 13:44 (TPT)
Did you know that there has been a decade-long treasure hunt going on? Back in 2010, a man named Forest Finn, hid a treasure with valuables in it worth a million dollars. He provided a clue-ridden poem as the map for the search. Since then, thousands of people have gone looking for it, even with some dying in the pursuit of it.
In 2020 the treasure was found by a 32-year-old man named Jack Steuf. He has said that solving the mystery was not so much about puzzle solving skills, but more about understanding who Fenn was. He spent time watching over and over interviews of Fenn. He sought to understand Fenn’s emotions and what he truly cared about. It was his pursuit of understanding Fenn as a person that unlocked the clues to find the treasure.
You can learn more about the treasure hunt in Outside’s magazine article, The Man Who Found Forrest Fenn’s Treasure , or the book, Chasing the Thrill, both by Daniel Barbarisi. However, what I find fascinating are some life lessons we can take away from this.
Pursue your purpose like a buried treasure.
What is your purpose in life? Are you pursuing it like a buried treasure? Our very life is an investment of time. How we spend that time and even the very breath of our lives shows where our heart and treasure lie. Some people went bankrupt and even gave up their lives in pursuit of Fenn’s treasure.
What is so important to you that you are giving your life to it? Take time to inventory where you use your time, talents, and money. This will often reveal what has been most important to you. Does it align with your purpose? How can you prioritize your treasures of time, talents and money so it aligns to what is important to you?
Our road to success is found in understanding people.
Are you treating people like a strategy in a hunt for your own goals or are you seeking to understand them? I know a leader who found that she would respond with angry words when others did not agree with her position, which was breaking down her relationships and influence. So, she decided to replace her harsh words with questions of curiosity. She sought to understand which then built her relationships and helped her to dialog about her position with others and have influence.
When people come near to death, what they most care about are the people in their lives and not the accolades achieved. When I talk with leaders who are transitioning to the end of their careers, it is common to hear that their focus is on having meaning and impact that is carried on by others and mentoring others. With Non-profits, people who become lifelong donors and volunteers with their favorite charity do so because of a relational connection and shared personal values. True fulfillment always seems to reveal a connection to others. How are you pursuing to understand others like a treasure?
You are a treasure.
I want you to know that you are a treasure. Your very life is valuable and created at this time and place to have meaning and impact. As you pursue others, also pursue the gift of who you are. The last year has been a difficult season for many. Times of crisis can require us to be reactionary for a time. But, at some point we need to step back, look at the big picture and realign.
How are you taking care of and nurturing yourself? How can you take care of yourself and align to what is most important to you? How can you invest in understanding others and empowering them? As you seek to love yourself and others, you will find treasure.