My husband Kevin and I love hunting for agates. His love for finding agates grew when he lived in Newport, Oregon, for five years as a child. Mine did, too, while celebrating many of my July birthdays with my family at Agate Beach, which just so happens to be in Newport as well! We have often pondered if we saw each other as children, passing our future soulmate unaware.
To this day, rock hunting still brings us joy…and a little friendly competition whenever we search for these little treasures together. Positioning our heads down, our eyes have laser-like focus as we comb the beach’s landscape. The oceans sights and sounds are a mere backdrop for the sole commitment to score the mother of all agates. From time to time, we break from our individual dedication to conquer this quest and pause to share our findings and marvel at each other’s good eye and fortune. For as long as we’ve been married we’ve shared this fun activity, possessing plenty of agates to prove it.
Our annual agate hunt one year was unlike any other. On this particular weekend, we joined our dear friends Joe and Susy to celebrate their 43rd wedding anniversary at a hotel and beach area we’d never been to. Not only was it thrilling to commemorate their special occasion, experiencing a new beach sight was an added bonus.
The weather forecast looked bleak for our trip, with heavy rain and high winds predicted. Understandably, this gloomy prediction dampened our spirits, causing second thoughts to creep in. For me personally, not only was the weather looking stormy, so were my emotions. I was brooding, sad and in a funk—in dire need of a sunny deposition. Like our friend Jim says, “Going to the beach is like mental floss.” Apparently, a good hardy flossing was in order. Thankfully we all pushed through those pesky apprehensions concerning the weather; committed to pressing on, we had an unwavering resolve to go, come heck or high water.
Though I unwillingly packed up my sorrow with me that day, God found a way to break through the sadness with a promise that weekend. After arriving, we had a delightful evening of fun, food and fellowship in spite of the rain.
By morning we were amazed; the rain had ceased and the skies were clear. Now I was chomping at the bit, eagerly wanting to walk on the beach. Kevin was tired and his back was hurting, so I made the trek down to the beach by myself. My prayer was, “God, please show Yourself. My heart is hurting; I need Your peace and comfort.” In all honesty, I also prayed that He would lead me to find a glass float. Hey, it never hurts to ask!
Even though He never did reveal a shimmering glass orb, much to my delight He did expose a beautiful agate which I immediately bent down to pick up. It was a good size, and to my surprise, there were countless more of these little gems. Upon this great discovery, I wasted no time to call my husband. “You have to come down here…there are so many agates!” My persuasion was lackluster at best, and he lovingly declined my offer while waving to me from the motel’s deck in the distance.
As I continued walking without my trusty agate buddy, I found even more agates, feeling sad Kevin was missing out on one of his favorite things to do. It became clear that drastic times called for drastic measures. So, with determination, I went back to the motel to prove the validity of my findings, confident this could possibly seal the deal. Reaching our room, I opened the door and laid my treasures on the ground near Kevin while he was on the floor rolling out his back. His interest peaked at my finds, realizing I indeed did hit the agate jackpot. Wrapping up his stretching, he was now ready and eager to join me in the hunt.
The exhilaration of faith becoming sight always brings a fresh wind of hope, a new found strength and a desire that rekindles our souls. How delightful it was to share the best agate hunting event ever with my partner in crime. I won’t tell you who found the biggest agate that day. It’s not nice to brag! But I will tell you this location is at the top of our list for a revisit.
While traveling home, I decided to read about how agates are formed in God’s creation, and it is fascinating! One explanation was that they develop as secondary deposits in hollow cavities called “vesicles.” The layers form in stages, and the cavities are irregularly and uniquely shaped.
Those little stones tell a story of beauty wrought by a gaping hole. This beach trip revealed a hole in my heart formed by brokenness. Feeling so cavernous through my lens of pain, it seemed almost impossible to heal. As I talked with the Lord on the beach that day, He had me stop and watch the people gathering treasures from the sea. Once storm tossed and battered, they were now a token of resilient beauty, being collected in joy and wonder. As I observed people stoop and gather the gems, God lovingly whispered in my spirit, “Someday, your pain, loss and heartbreak will be a nugget of hope and healing to those whose hearts are breaking.” Instantly the pain lessened with the reminder His bigger picture is far grander than my eyes could see in my present state.
Your heart might feel emotionally split like a canyon of grief, undone by circumstances that took your breath away. Yet God knows it all; nothing slips through His loving fingers to defeat you. All His unending love and devotion to you will fill your gaping wounds with His glory. Honey comes from a rock, sweetness from extreme bitterness, hopelessness turns into resounding hope. Your heartache transforms into a memorial gem of sparkling redemption, bringing joy to other sojourners who long for the same freedom.
O you afflicted (city), storm-tossed and not comforted, behold, I will set your stones in fair colors [in antimony to enhance their brilliance) and lay your foundations with sapphires. And I will make your windows and pinnacles of (sparkling) agates or rubies, and your gates of [shining] carbuncles, and all your walls [of your enclosures] of precious stones. And all your [spiritual] children shall be disciples [taught by the Lord and obedient to His will), and great shall be the peace and undisturbed composure of your children. —Isaiah 54:11–13 AMPC
But He would feed Israel with the best wheat. I would satisfy you with honey from the rock. —Psalm 81:16 HCSB
They will feast on the abundance of the seas, on the hidden treasure in the sands. —Deuteronomy 33:19 NIV
When you’re between a rock and a hard place, it won’t be a dead end. —Isaiah 43:2 MSG
“This is (a gate) to wonder.” —Author unknown
Prayer:
Lord, we praise You for Your healing touch to broken hearts. Nothing is ever wasted in Your Kingdom plans for Your children. Thank you for helping me see earthly woes with heavenly wonder, soaring like a kite with a tail of Your unfailing love.
Grace-Filled Seasons Lisa Jennings
