A few weeks ago, as Bill and I were driving to REI to pick up a gift card, my cell phone rings. It’s my sister from Fort Collins.
“What are you doing?” she asked. I told her, and she laughed out loud. Will wonders never cease, she said.
She had just met with one of her clients, who had told her about an activity called geocaching, and my sister was intrigued. She was calling to suggest I go to REI to purchase a geocacher, or to at least learn more about geocaching. (My sister has intuitive powers, but that’s another post.)
Having never heard anything about it, and being intrigued myself, I subsequently proceeded to learn as much about geocaching as I could. Now I’m hooked.
Simply speaking, geocaching is treasure hunting using the technology of satellites, via a GPS of some sort. And the word “treasure” is used lightly. With geocaching, it’s about the hunt and the find, and not about the cache itself.
So now, as often as several times a day, I take my phone (which now has a geocache program on it) and hunt for hidden treasure, 21st century-style. I like it because it challenges me to think creatively, it offers me the opportunity to be outside and get some exercise, and it provides me a sense of accomplishment (provided I’m able to find the geocache).
I’m finding that it also forces me to confront and overcome some of my scaredy-catness about God’s, shall we say, less-desireable creatures, such as insects, snakes, and so forth. The treasures are generally hidden off the beaten path amidst trees, long grasses, and pine needles. I can’t say I fearlessly pursue the treasures yet, but I’m trying.
I think God’s human children are very creative to have taken advantage of satellite technology and used it to pursue something fun. Geocaching is a group activity. Even if you don’t actually hunt with others (though it is much more fun to do so), it is almost impossible to not call someone and tell them about your success. And I can’t wait to hunt with my 7-year-old granddaughter. She will be excited about the mystery.
