Spiritual Rocks

"You are indeed my rock and my fortress;

for your name’s sake lead me and guide me,

take me out of the net that is hidden for me,

for you are my refuge."

(from Psalm 31)

Pennsylvania's rocks are known as "Pennsylvania Potatoes"

For me, the meaning of "Pennsylvania Potatoes" is nuisance.

Last Spring, I decided to plant some flowers.

I began digging and the very first thing I hit below the soil was a "Pennsylvania Potato", a huge one. 

It took more digging, prying, lifting, and finally moving the rock. 

For my neighbor, the meaning of rocks was wall building.

He and his three teenage kids decided to use rocks near the properties edge. It grew to a height of 3 layers and 40 feet long.

For Joshua, the meaning of rocks was memorial. 

In Joshua 4, after Israel crosses the Jordan river into Canaan.

Joshua instructs the Israelites to choose twelve stones from the Jordan river and erect them as a memorial.

He instructs the Israelites: “When your children ask in time to come, ‘What do those stones mean?’” you will have a story to tell about crossing the Jordan.

In 1 Peter 2. He refers to Jesus as a living stone and urges the disciples to be built like living stones into a spiritual house, a royal priesthood.

The meaning of cairns, stacks of rocks, in ancient times, served as navigational aids to let one know they are on the right path.

For Elaine and me, the meaning of Bubble Rock in Acadia NP, was a place of beauty and peace.

Having climbed the Bubble Rock trail, and absorbed the view of Bubble Pond below and the vast sea in the distance, gave us a sense of God's awesomeness.

It seems to me that we are always encountering rocks in various sizes and meanings, from suffering and struggle, to memorial memories, to experiencing the awesome presence of God.

But finally, aren't we standing on the Rock of Christ, the Cornerstone of our Faith, as we make our way along life's path?