Treasure Hunt (NOT what you might think)

Scavenger hunts are a great game for a group of people. Often pushing us far outside our comfort zones. Given a list of items we are to find or things we are to do to win the game, we set out into the great unknown. When we were little, maybe we called our scavenger hunts, treasure hunts. Hunting for items mom hid around the house, yard or neighborhood. Every time we found an object on our hunt it lead us to the next one. But whats the point of the game? Is the point to win? or is it to socialize with those you are savaging with? or is it something deeper, having an impact on the lives of those you encounter along your quest? Whatever the point, there is nothing quiet like searching and finding what you are looking for. Well, today I experienced what one may call a scavenger hunt, or more aptly a treasure hunt, unlike anything I have ever experienced before and a treasure is what I found!

My friend Matt is visiting from California, and he attends a church that often does what they call "treasure hunts." When he first told me about them I thought it a bit odd, but definitely intriguing. What you do is you listen. You ask God to direct you to people who need a touch from Him and then you listen. As you listen you write down whatever comes to mind. Colors, names, articles of clothing, directions, random words, etc. Then you start "hunting" for the treasure of touching someone with the love of God! Sounds kind of crazy right??? Well, wait till you hear what happens.....

I had picked up Matt from a coffee shop he had been enjoying while I ran errands. I was starving and when I picked him up I had no idea he had just been getting ready to go on a treasure hunt. But where I wanted to go happened to be to the left and "left" happened to be on his treasure hunt list. So, off we went. Then he had "green dress." We saw a lady in a green skirt but Matt thought we should keep going, that's when Matt spotted a lady in a green dress on a park bench across the street. Thinking she was our intended destination we walked to the cross walk and began crossing when all of the sudden a man walking toward us doubled over in front of us and grabbed his ankle! Unknown to me, on Matt's treasure hunt list was "injured ankle or foot." Woooho!

Matt instantly began to talk to the man whose name was Omar. He had injured his ankle at work the day before and was having trouble walking since. Matt prayed for the ankle and immediately Omar said the pain went from a 10 to about a 5!!!! We continued to talk to Omar, who is from Sierra Lione. A student here he has a love of God, but is not plugged into a church, as he put it he goes, hears the word and gets out. We talked for quiet awhile, Omar doing most of the talking. We encouraged him to talk to people at his church as they may be able to help him explore his passions and heart for service. We were not only able to encourage him, but he encouraged us as well. We prayed again for his ankle and the pain decreased even more! When we left, Omar was in high spirits looking forward and walking with no limp and barely any pain! PRAISE GOD!

What happened to the lady in the green dress? While talking with Omar, she had gotten in a car and driven away. Apparently she was just to lead us to Omar!!!!!

I must admit, after an experience like that I can't wait for another opportunity to touch someone with the love of God and be touched by them as well!!!! So, I have to ask, when's the last time you sat and listened?