Treasures Waiting for Us

Numbers 13:26 (ESV) And they came to Moses and Aaron and to all the congregation of the people of Israel in the wilderness of Paran, at Kadesh. They brought back word to them and to all the congregation, and showed them the fruit of the land. 27 And they told him, “We came to the land to which you sent us. It flows with milk and honey, and this is its fruit. 28 However, the people who dwell in the land are strong, and the cities are fortified and very large. And besides, we saw the descendants of Anak there. 29 The Amalekites dwell in the land of the Negeb. The Hittites, the Jebusites, and the Amorites dwell in the hill country. And the Canaanites dwell by the sea, and along the Jordan.”

30 But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

I met Anna on the day after Christmas, during a day trip to New Haven last year. I was wearing a pink pashmina shawl with woven paisley designs from India and she had taken a liking to it. She asked me if there were similar fabrics in the Philippines and I said I'd take a look.

Five months later, I am back in the East Coast and privileged enough to have the time and means to revisit my friend, and therefore, her mother-in-law, Anna, this time with twenty shawls in tote. She immediately fell in love with the feel of silk, pashmina and chiffon. They were sprawled and wrapped around her couches and seats as she gasped and ogled the chartreause, salmon and crimson, all the while reminiscing about a Bollywood movie and a connection to an old time friend who added color to her life. She thanked me for giving her these treasures, enough material to keep her occupied to design art pieces for women to wear in the months to come. Anna was taking another step in realizing her dream of selling women's clothing that made women feel like they could escape from the humdrum of their daily lives.

She then turned to me and held my hand. She said that she wanted to get to know me more. She wanted to know my inner world, my soul.

"What you see is what you get," I replied. A little uncomfortable but curious and amused.

"But, Sacha, what are you afraid of? What are you holding back?" she prodded.

"What do you mean?" My eyebrows furrowed.

"What are you fearful about?" she continued, gazing into my eyes.

"I don't think I'm afraid of anything," I shrugged and smiled.

"Just remember that there are no coincidences. This meeting is no coincidence."

"I completely agree," I added curtly. We ended that meeting by reading a verse from Proverbs about God's provision and abundance.

That afternoon, I came across the verses above. The Israelites were delivered from slavery in Egypt and had been traveling through the desert for forty years. God had promised them the land of Canaan. Moses instructed the leaders from each tribe to spy the land and come back with a report. The Israelite leaders described a land flowing with milk and honey. They also described fortified cities and people--no small challenge for a people who have been unsettled for many years.

But Caleb quieted the people before Moses and said, “Let us go up at once and occupy it, for we are well able to overcome it.”

I closed my bible and realized that Anna was right. There is something holding me back from doing what I really want to do--fear. Fear of failure. Fear of the unknown.

Yesterday, I was at the MoMA, viewing the furniture in the architecture and design section. Amidst chairs made out of Japanese paper and Polish posters, I was meditating on the idea that this was a room full of ideas. And there were all these mini conversations in my head about the artwork. An intense feeling of sadness crept, and I needed to sit down.

I am very grateful that I am in New York City today. But at the same time, I don't want it to end. I don't want to leave this room full of ideas. I don't want this conversation to end.

I keep looking at the fortified cities and strong people--getting a job in NYC, acquiring a visa, resigning from a wonderful job in Manila and saying goodbye to family and friends.

But God is exhorting me to be like Caleb. "Sacha, claim the treasures, the destiny that I have for you. We are connected. You will overcome."

I claim God's treasures. I claim His destiny for me.

I am overcoming.

Shoot a prayer:

What treasures does God want you to claim from Him? What are your fortified cities and strong people? How can you overcome them?

Ask God to enlighten you today and hold your hand as you claim the destiny He has for you.