Encountering an extraordinary God in ordinary life
Issue # 238 August 23, 2001
Rocks

My father is a rock hound. One of those people who gathers precious and semi-precious stones and then creates things from his finds. Or to be more formal, my father is a practitioner of the fine art of lapidary.

He and my mother create all kinds of beautiful jewelry and decorative objects from stone, beads and metal. I’m always astounded at their craftsmanship and the variety of things that they make. They are truly artists.

While on my recent visit, I was looking through several crates of semi-precious stones they had mined on a recent outing in Manitoba. There was a plethora of types of petrified wood, agates and jaspers.

I looked around the yard and saw dozens more, perhaps hundreds more varieties of stones from around the world. Different colors, patterns, and hardness. Some were quite beautiful, others had their beauty hidden until they would be polished or faceted. Still others were sort of plain looking, but had an appeal all of their own. Virtually every color imaginable was in a stone somewhere in the yard, the studio or house.

I also knew that what I was seeing was only a small taste of the variety that the world has to offer.

Some stones and colors are found only in one mine in the entire world. Others are more common and found virtually everywhere.

There are stones that have no value to a rock hound. They call them leaverite, as in leave ‘er right where you find them.

Others are so incredibly valuable that the average person will never likely see one, let alone buy one. For example, I only learned recently that there are red diamonds, most of which reside in the collections of museums.

I wondered why there is such an incredible variety of rocks. We’re told that people and animals come in such diversity because they evolved to meet their own needs. Yet rocks haven’t had to evolve and they are found in equal diversity.

I believe the answer is simple. They come in a variety to make us ponder their beauty and creation. That pondering is to help point us in the direction of the God who created them.

Their very existence is proof of His existence and a form of praise.

For since the creation of the world God's invisible qualities--his eternal power and divine nature--have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made, so that men are without excuse. Romans 1:20 NIV

Until next time, when you see a common, everyday ordinary rock, pause for a moment and give thanks to the God who created it.

God bless.

Kevin

Do you know the God who created the universe and everything in it? Would you like to know Him, His love and His forgiveness? He wants to have a personal relationship with you.

Email me and I’ll share a few Bible verses that will explain why a relationship with Him is so important and a prayer that will make it possible.

Don’t delay, He even made the rocks as a signpost for YOU to find Him.