Antique Road Show

Did you ever see the television program The Antique Road Show?  You know the one.  It is where people take old stuff which has been just sitting around their house to appraisers who tell them the history and value of it.  This is stuff which has sometimes been given them by parents or grandparents.  Sometimes it was somebody else’s stuff which they just stumbled onto in a happenstance yard sale or found abandoned by previous tenants.  I always love to see the amazement of the owners when the appraiser tells them that the thing which may have been thought to be worth a couple of hundred dollars is worth tens of thousands of dollars.  There is often shock.  Sometimes, though, there is the coy owner who smiles and says, “That is pretty much what I figured.”

I love that show.  It makes me start looking around my house for potential treasures.  I have yet to come up with any that have caused me rush off for appraisal—at least not “things.”

I have begun to think of individuals as treasure.  Thomas Moore in his book Care of the Soul compares souls of individuals to antiques.  Antiques are objects which have, with the passing of years and progression of technology, lost their role, their function and purpose.  Yet, there is something about that antique item which is captivating.  Sometimes after the usefulness is gone the item achieves an amazingly increased value.  People, likewise, whose utilitarian purposes have been outlived but whose souls remain have great value and beauty as living treasures.

 I am given an opportunity to enter into the lives of wonderful human beings.   And because of my role as pastor or chaplain I am accepted, trusted and shown around by my hosts.  They expose to me some of the most valuable treasure anyone could imagine—their souls.  I become somewhat of an “appraiser” as we piece their stories together to get clues as to what their lives have meant.  Together we are working on a task of meaning-making.  As I listen I affirm the value and worth that is theirs as a living soul.

My role as a pastor, a spiritual guide, is to become the “appraiser” for a moment and interpret for them some of the beauty and value of their souls.  If you observe a person’s life or listen to the stories of a life you will notice rare and distinctive qualities which become thematic.  So, as an “appraiser” I can tell you by looking at those distinct markings in someone’s life much about him or her.  I can tell something about the community of people of which this person was a member.  I can tell you, by the trademark characteristics of a life to whom that person has belonged.  The loyalties which are evident will clearly suggest the ultimate priorities and meaning of this life before us.    

I am inviting you to gather with us as a group and piece together the stories of your life.  This will be a time to compile a spiritual autobiography, of sorts.  We will meet each Wednesday afternoon at 2 PM beginning May 7^th.  We will meet for about an hour with assignments for each week.  Come discover the treasure that you are!