It started as a way to do something thoughtful for my mom, but over time collecting heart shaped rocks as I travel has come to be personally meaningful.
My mom had been collecting rocks shaped like hearts for several years, so when I left for the World Race two years ago, I thought it would great if I picked up a rock for her from each country. As each new month began, so did the hunt for the perfect rock. It didn’t take long before I came to enjoy searching for the rocks.
When I got home, my mom was very happy to receive 11 heart shaped rocks from all over the world and each time I see them, I am taken back to each country I visited on the World Race.
So it just made sense for me to continue collecting heart shaped rocks during my squad leading journey. I am so glad that I did because not only have I enjoyed the thrill of the hunt as before, but God has begun to speak to me through the rocks I find. Now, more than memories, each rock has special significance and meaning; bringing with it a blessing, a promise, a lesson, or a revelation. Most recent of these is the rock from Albania.
The rock was found atop a hill overlooking the city of Durres to one side and Adriatic Sea to the other. Along with a couple members of the church, the guys and I walked up the hill early one morning for a time of prayer over the city and its people. Towards the end of our our time, I thought I saw a heart shaped rock on the ground. I bent down to pick it up, but it turned out to be more of a triangle; I decided to keep looking. I ended up getting down practically on my hands and knees, determined to find a rock. I picked many rocks tossing them all aside. After a while of this, and even digging through the dirt a bit, I found it.
Life is not always easy. In fact it rarely is. There are those times that require us to get down on our hands and knees and get in the dirt. When life comes to this, it’s tempting to call it quits. It’s hard when we have to dig through the dirt.
My quitting point used to come pretty early. Perseverance was not a thing for me in many areas of life; it was so much easier to give up. Over time I realized that quitting really isn’t an effective strategy for life.
It is so important that to look to the Lord for strength when I want to quit. (Psalm 140:7, Isaiah 41:10, Habakkuk 3:19, Philippians 4:13, etc.) He is always faithful to give it! Each time I do, I strengthen my resolve in the Lord and push the limits of that quitting point.
It has been 6 months on the mission field as a squad leader with one more to go as a “freelance missionary” (~c.g.). It has been wonderful, I would not want to change it, but I can see that I am reaching that quitting point. Thoughts of home are invading my mind more and more. God clearly knew this was coming; so he provide the rock to remind me to persevere and lean on his strength.
“fear not, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
(Isaiah 41:10)
