Searching

Time was passing by as I drove up and down Providence Rd., through side streets, and around in circles in parking lots, futilely seeking the restaurant I was supposed to pick up from. GPS had brought me into a parking lot, in front of a market, and then declared, "You have arrived at your destination!"

This prompted an, "I've arrived?  Where??" from me, since I was not supposed to be at a Whole Foods market. For the next 20 minutes - probably longer - I drove, searched every building, looked at a directory in a parking lot, questioned people in the parking lot, and finally even called the customer ... she didn't answer.  In a final bid, I got out of the car and asked at what must have been a very high end diamond store - one that was locked when I first walked up to it.

They knew where this restaurant was, and it turned out to be in an inner area, no view to the street, no signage, and didn't even have their name on the directory.  I questioned them on this as I picked up the order (late), commenting that nobody knew where they were. The food service worker simply pointed at the order and said, "Somebody know!" Well - can't argue with logic like that.

Jesus spoke of searching as well. He told a parable about the Kingdom, in which a merchant searched all his career for a perfect pearl (Matt. 13:45-46). He found one, and was willing to give up everything else he had to buy that one perfect pearl, because nothing else would be better. He could stop searching.

There are many out there searching for meaning in their lives. In the Old Testament, wise Solomon also searched for meaning, and had the means to try everything the world offers.  He found that wine, sex, money, power, fame, knowledge, and strength were not the key - and in the end he said, "Let us hear the conclusion of the matter: fear God, and keep his commands, for this is the whole of man." (Ecc. 12:13)  Man can not be whole until he follows God.  When this "pearl" - symbolizing God's Kingdom - is shown to man, if he truly understands he will be willing to give all he has to gain it.