An Archaeological Dig

Maybe it goes along with spring cleaning, but I seem to be finding myself beginning what might be called an archaeological dig. Room by room, going through closets and boxes of what was once considered treasures that have been buried over the years. Excavating is not easy work. It can take years to sift through the layers of dirt and must be done with pain-staking care so as not to damage what lies beneath. However, with patience comes the thrill of discovery. As I move through the process I find that most times, along with the physical artifacts are the emotional ones which also require a special kind of care. Memories of both good and bad times, experiences that have shaped me into the person I am today. And when I encounter those moments, I must pause and let the dust settle a bit before moving on with the excavation.

Once you have uncovered the treasures, you will have to make a choice as to what to do with them. Are they in salvagable condition? Or are they so fragmented that they are no longer of value? If they are glorious discoveries, who do you share them with? How will you continue to preserve them? How might you use them in your life today?

The excavation process opens up a whole new realm of possibilities and choices to finding your authentic self. The singer/songwriter Joan Baez once said, “As long as one keeps searching, the answers will come.”  And from Paule Marshall, “Sometimes a person has to go back, really back – to have a sense, an understanding of all that’s gone to make them – before they can go forward.”

So, if you are embarking on an archaeological dig of your own, remember to pack the four P’s – patience, persistence, perseverance, and prayer. And in the end you just might find your passion.

until next time…