I will give you the treasures of darkness and hidden wealth of secret places. ~The Bible

Walking along the rocky shoreline during ebb tide, an eighty-five year old man named Billy Proctor can often be seen in tall black rubber boots looking for treasures washed ashore. It is a ritual he has observed since childhood and over the years he has collected a myriad of hidden jewels; large aqua-marine glass buoys, chiseled arrow heads, ancient metal jewelry from the “original people” as he calls them, colorful bottles of all shapes and sizes, China dishes, and even a scientifically verified meteorite. He was one of the most delightful characters I met in the Broughton Islands, with an infectious smile and tales of the sea and land a mile long. He is actually quite a legend in the area having lived on the rugged islands most of his life earning a living by fishing, trapping, and logging.

Hundreds of visitors pass through his quaint museum at Echo Bay on their way north to Alaska and are greeted with a warm welcome and of course a story or two. His museum includes a replica of a trappers cabin entirely built from one cedar tree. Inside the main building neat rows of shelves and glass cases display his wares. Rays of sunlight shine through paned windows lighting up the countless bottles stacked on a high shelf – amber, deep green, and sea blue. I was touched by this man’s ability to find intriguing cast-offs covered in the muck and sand on the ocean floor and his patience in searching out whatever treasure might appear. The word treasure means, “to have great value,” but it also carries with it a sense that it is not easily obtained.

When I consider the ebb-tide experiences in my life, it is nice to think there is something of value to be discovered in the darkness. In fact, many important lessons or self-awareness have come as the result of difficult experiences. After my brother’s death, I learned I am more resilient than I realized, that happiness is possible even after a devastating loss, and awakened to a reservoir of compassion within myself. My son had a similar ebb-tide insight while studying abroad in Ireland. He felt completely displaced and terribly homesick, yet he knew he needed to stay where he was. In the four months he was away I noticed a palatable shift in his demeanor. It was as if he’d left home a boy and returned a man. He had found an inner resource, a solid place to stand amidst the turmoil. So now when the ebb tides come into my life, as they surely will, I’ll take my cue from Billy Proctor and patiently comb the terrain with an eye out for the hidden treasure awaiting my discovery.

Question: What treasures have you found buried under the surface during ebb-tide experiences?