I Love Rocks

  I love rocks. I really do. I guess it’s a good thing since there is no shortage of rocks in these Ozark Mountains of Arkansas where I live. It seems that they grow and multiply like weeds.  My lawn mower doesn’t appreciate them as much as I do.  They come in all different sizes, different colors, with different characteristics, but all are interesting.

   I come by this love and appreciation for rocks quite honestly.  My mother and grandmother were rock collectors, although they called themselves and folks like them “rock hounds”.  It's a good description.  Eyes always to the ground scouting for any worthy to be added to their collections like bloodhounds on the hunt.

   In addition to the family heritage of rock hounding, I have other reasons for this interest in rocks.  I find them fascinating.  Though they are quiet things, rocks really do tell stories.  Well now, that just reminded me of a scripture verse. Sorry, but this happens all the time. Luke 19:40…But He (Jesus) answered and said to them, (the Pharisees) “I tell you that if these should keep silent, the stones would immediately cry out.”  Jesus was making His triumphal entry to Jerusalem just before His crucifixion. The multitude of His disciples were praising God saying, “Blessed is the King who comes in the name of the Lord! Peace in heaven and glory in the highest!” 

   The Savior of the world would get praise that day even if it came from the rocks.  I hope I praise Him enough with my voice and my life that my rocks don’t have to cry out.

   Back to why I like rocks.  Like I said, sometimes they have stories to tell, sometimes they are part of the story and sometimes they are the whole story.

   Regarding rocks with stories to tell, this would be the interesting fossils that I find. We have found what appear to be clams encapsulated in rock.  This discovery would make a person wonder if at some time in the past water covered the tops of these mountains.  According to Genesis 7:19-20, it did.  (19. And the waters prevailed exceedingly on the earth, and all the high hills under the whole heaven were covered.  20.  The waters prevailed fifteen cubits upward, and the mountains were covered.)  I am confident that my rocks, if they could talk, would have very interesting stories to tell us.  I think they might whisper to us “Heed the word of the Lord.”

   I love the story of young David before he became king, and how he chose five smooth stones from a brook and went to do battle with the enemy, a feared enemy who was fiercer and bigger and who brought with him a sword, a spear, and a javelin to this battle.  David had his slingshot, five rocks and God.  David told this enemy, “I will win and then all the earth will know that there is a God in Israel.”  David did win with one rock and they and we can know there is a God.

   Sometimes rocks have a story, sometimes they are in the story, and sometimes they are the whole story.  My favorite rock is the Rock of my salvation, the stone the builders rejected. 

Psalm 61:1-2:  Hear my cry, O God; Attend to my prayer; From the end of the earth I will cry to You, When my heart is overwhelmed; Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.

   By the way this Psalm was written by David, the same boy with the slingshot and the same man who became King David.  He might have been king but he knew who was higher than him.  

   This rock that is higher than I.....this is my favorite.