Digging for China
“If you dig too deep, you’ll go right on through to China!”
Dad spoke, and I believed him. As a kid in the sandbox, looking down at the hole I was digging—it looked pretty deep. After all, I’d been at it for at least five minutes and the moisture from the ground below began seeping in. Soon, the sand was no more as the soil underneath turned black.
I wondered what I would do if I did see China. I was the one digging and so I figured I’d see lights sooner than later. It was at this point I decided I’d best stop. I did have a plan though. At the first sight of China, I would begin filling it all back in. However, I also wondered if China would be able to see me—a kid in the sandbox with a shovel in hand.
I never did make it to China— whether through the sandbox or via ship or plane but I remember clearly where my thoughts had taken me that day—alone in the sandbox not knowing much more than the words dad had spoken. Funny thing is— dad never knew I was pondering his words. But why wouldn’t I? He was, after all, dad.
I’ve outgrown looking for China in the sandbox—but it doesn’t mean I don’t continue to dig and ponder and think about things my father said. The only difference is that as an adult I tend to ponder things my Heavenly Father wrote and spoke and lived because I still have so much more to learn. Although thankful for my earthly father, I’m even more thankful for God our Father who spoke Truth and speaks Truth. Thus, I continue to dig and when I do—I can see clear through to what the Almighty can do rather than my shallow view about the hole I’ve dug—the one He’s digging me out of.
Isaiah 51:1 gives a nice twist on this topic. “Listen to me… who seek the Lord; look to the rock from which you were hewn and to the quarry from which you were dug.”
Job 28:10 is interesting. “He hews out channels through the rocks, and his eye sees anything precious.”
I’m no theologian, yet I love these verses which speak about digging and about rocks. There’s always a broader context. That’s why we have pastors who can lead and teach and preach and to better understand it. Yet, one doesn’t need to dig too deep to understand some things. Some things He taught speak for themselves without needing too many context clues.
“Jesus Christ is the Rock upon which He builds His church” (Matt. 1618).
“For they drank from the spiritual Rock…and the Rock was Christ” (1 Corinth. 10:4).
“The Lord is my Rock; my fortress…my God is my Rock in whom I take refuge” (Psalm 18:2).
“You are my Father, my God, and the Rock of my salvation (Psalm 89:26-28).
His Word is never too deep to find what you are looking for— so just keep on digging. Amen.
