February 17, 2025 – “It’s Only a Rock” – by Paul Smith

It’s Only a Rock
I have taken up the hobby of finding interesting rocks and polishing them. Before I started this hobby, I never knew there were so many varieties of rocks. They differ in color, how they were formed, what they were formed from, hardness, etc. Some are beautiful, some are ugly on the outside but beautiful on the inside.
I thought in this rural area of northeastern Wisconsin there would not be many others who shared a similar interest. Was I wrong. Last Saturday I went to an auction just down the road from where I live. They were auctioning off rocks someone had collected over the years and some polishing equipment. It was a cold snowy day, the night before we received about 7 inches of snow. I was sure not many would venture out to buy rocks on such a day. The auction house was packed.
I managed to outbid some folks on some pales and boxes of rocks.
A nice lady came by and asked if she could pick a rock from one of the bags I bought. The bag contained many Lake Superior, agates. She carefully looked through the bag. I told her she could have anyone she wanted. She found the best one in the bag. I said it’s only a rock, but it was a beauty. I asked her if she would be willing to come to church for that agate. She said for sure. I was skeptical if she would come, but she kept her word. Not many do, when you invite them to church.
People are like rocks. The more time you spend getting to know them the better you understand how they got to be, who they are.
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” Psalm 139:114 NIV
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