Buried Treasure

Those few things most cherished can easily be lost, drowned in a deafening barrage of excess and drivel.  (Read “Breakfast Club Philosophy.”)  But what of those rare treasures that we hold most dear?  What happens when we fail to recognize them…or worse yet, hide them away…ultimately from ourselves?”

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Most think first of the treasure chest filled with gold or precious gems, gathered from ships and stored under lock and chain.  Riches brought together by swords wielded by pirates, each looking to steal away and keep the bounty for himself.

When opportunity arises, often by moonlight, that one rebel pirate finds his chance to sneak away.  He takes these things and secures them in a wooden box to which he holds the only key.  Digging a hole, just large enough and deeper than necessary, he buries his treasure under a mountain of earth, doing what he can to refill the hole and disguise his hiding place from the rest of the world.

He then contrives a complicated maze of a map that should lead him back to that spot…whenever that very moment arises when he chooses to revisit the things most dear to him.

What if he loses his map?  What if he forgets his way back?  What if he does find that solitary place where those things were buried away…but the treasure is not there anymore? 

Not that I have to worry about protecting a collection of golden coins, crowns, or jeweled chalices; I don’t have any of that stuff.  Still, I do have some pretty valuable things.

An old embroidered patch from a six-mile cross country race in Dallas from 1978 that I ran with my dad.  It takes me back to the many runs, many miles that I logged with him over the years, both literally and figuratively.

A key to my uncle’s house.  He’s gone now; I don’t use it.  But it reminds me of the many times I stayed with him.

The jacket I was given in the dead of winter overlooking a frozen lake because “if you’re gonna be here, you’ve gotta have this.”  A suit of armor presented at the gate of the castle.  I was made welcome…and was expected to return.

There are other things – old text messages or magazines or cassette tapes or Christmas cards or “man, I forgot I even had these” discoveries – that make my heart swell, and yes, sometimes ache, as I relive the memories that accompany them. 

It’s not the burying, the forgetting, the locking away of things in a dark, cold emptiness that brings value to a chained up box of stuff.

 It’s the finding of them, the unearthing of treasures thought lost or even nonexistent, that brings us a smile of discovery or the warmth of remembrance.  And then we realize that it’s the people that they’re connected to, that we’re connected to, that we find most precious.

Embrace your treasures.  Share them.  Be thankful.

And put the shovel away.

Comments

[Christine]

Jeff,

This blog reminds me of a quote that my departed and beloved Grandmother use to say to me all of the time:

"The most precious gifts in life are not what we accumulate but the people behind the gifts."

I didn't always understand her quote as a child. But it stayed with me. And today as an adult, I appreciate her wisdom.

Thank you Jeff, for reminding me of her quote through your blog.

[brenda]

UMMMM! Went down and searched my "special box;" interesting what I found.

Couple of old albums - Ringo Starr "Beaucoups of Blues" and Donny Osmond "Superstar!" AHAHAHAHAHAA, good grief! Quite a different taste in music!

My Jr. High yearbooks - hope my boys never see those. Ohhhh the comments they contain from my then friends. A silk scarf sent by a soldier friend of mine from 1976; wonder where he is now. Also, some items I've kept from a painful time in my younger years; wonder why I kept those? Maybe because they can remind me that I've grown because of them. I'm stronger, more forgiving!

Thanks Jeff. Your blogs are always an inspiration. I might not always comment, but I always read them.

Good luck in the Marathon!

[Cheryl]

Thank you Jeff! I used to wonder what it would be like if I had this or that. Now I wonder who will I meet today and what memory I will keep from that meeting.

No greater gift can we receive than those who touch our soul.

[McMahon (JeffMcMahonOnline)]

"No greater gift can we receive than those who touch our soul."

Cheryl...what I tried to say in these paragraphs, you've said in this one sentence; in truth, it is this very idea that prompted me to write this article in the first place.

Well done.

[LEA]

WELL, I THINK TREASURES ARE GREAT... AS LONG AS YOU DON'T SAVE TOO MANY THAT YOU FORGET WHY YOU SAVED THEM.

LIFE IS PRECIOUS AND I TRY HARD TO APPRECIATE EVERY MOMENT; TREASURES ARE A WONDERFUL GIFT TO BE ABLE TO RELIVE THAT WONDERFUL MOMENT AGAIN AND AGAIN.

[Gayle]

Hey Jeff -

Love "Buried Treasure." Being the nostalgic person (aka pack rat) that I am, I like to go through those boxes nestled in the attic every so often. Sometimes you wonder why we keep the things we do, and then, sometime later, we are grateful that we did.

One of those times was the other day when my youngest was mortified to see me throwing out some of his school work (practice spelling tests, little doodles, etc.) I had to explain to him that - while I would love to keep everything he does - there just in not enough room to keep everything; with that he says, "I suppose you didn't keep the hand turkey that I made when I was four. (He is almost nine.)

After some careful thought and rummaging through the back hall closet, how excited was he when I pulled it out of a box called "Kids Holiday." Then feeling the need to test me, his older brother (almost 16) says, "I bet you don't have mine!" With that, I dig to the bottom of the box (with fingers crossed and sweating) and pull out his!

They were truly amazed with this amazing box of their TREASURES. I told them to go ask their grandmo ther; she certainly must have mine somewhere! right? My youngest realized, I do keep the important stuff! (I believe I lucked out on that one!)

I have many of these boxes in my house, some I can share, some I'd rather not. But one thing is for sure; I will never part with them - they are a part of me and my life! And you have reminded me of their importance - and have given me a good reason not to dispose of them during fall cleaning :)

Thanks; all the best...

[Kathy]

Jeff,

Anyone who reads these blogs of yours has to relate to their own life to them.

It is so ironic to read about "treasures." I have been going through a stage in my life to where I am trying to part with as many of mine as possible to end the "clutter" in my life.

I have found that the memories are still there without the item as a reminder. It has taken me forty years to realize this, but I have been able to part with most of it.

BUT a few things I still can't make myself part with as of yet.

I love your writings - so much talent and
heart in them.

[Teri]

And now Jeff, even though I know you think I'm a hopeless sap(!), meeting you and your fellow shipmates has become one of those treasures for me. What an amazing team/family of soulful hearts you have created with Team McGraw.

I meant what I said about you being the heart of it. Thank you, take care, and take a well-deserved month off and rest!