Geocaching adventure uncovers spiritual treasure

“Seek and ye shall find.” (Matthew 7: 7)

My family and I have engaged in quite a few geocaching adventures over the last few years.  Geocaching has provided a fun – and free – incentive to enjoy fresh air, exercise and time together.

For those unfamiliar with the concept, “geocaching is a real-world, outdoor treasure hunting game using GPS-enabled devices,” according to geocaching.com. “Participants navigate to a specific set of GPS coordinates and then attempt to find the geocache (container) hidden at that location.”

Different people create caches (often with clues, messages, puzzles or riddles), log the GPS coordinates onto the geocaching website, and hope their items are hidden well enough for unsuspecting people to leave them intact, and for interested people (i.e. fellow geocachers) to find and enjoy the thrill of discovery. 

Geocaching “treasures” are not pots of gold or financial windfalls. Sometimes, all one discovers is a log book. Other times, there may be little toys which can be traded by leaving another “treasure” in its place for the next seeker.

The discoveries may be tiny and very difficult to find, or they may be the size of a sandwich container.  The biggest one I’ve seen was a library-type cache, a little bigger than a shoe box. Cachers were expected to take a book, leaving one in its place. People are very creative.

When our family first started geocaching, we found the coordinates for the caches online and then used compasses and the hints provided on the website by the geocaching member. It was difficult. More recently, I downloaded the Geocaching App onto my cell phone. This app keeps me abreast of my GPS coordinates, making the journey – while still challenging – a little more conducive to success.

Recently, a friend and I took five children geocaching. We sought three different caches, each with very interesting clues and stories, which sparked the imagination of young and old, alike. According to our GPS, we were very close to two of the caches; however, due to summertime overgrowth in the forested areas we explored, we found nothing. 

It was disappointing, but no one seemed upset to leave without making a discovery. The group seemed happy to simply spend the time together. Everyone seemed to enjoy the walk, the conversation along the way, and the excitement of being on a treasure hunt. Additionally, now that we know the caches exist, we hope to return to the area in the spring or fall to try again.

In retrospect, I realize maybe we did find treasure that day. The intangible benefits of our outing will far outlast the search for a note in a Ziploc bag and, while seeking the evasive treasure, I recognized parallels to our faith.

St. Paul wrote that the Gospel “is veiled to those who are perishing, in whose case the god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they may not see the light of the gospel of the glory of Christ … But we hold this treasure in earthen vessels, that the surpassing power may be of God and not from us.” (2 Cor. 4: 3-7)

We are “earthen vessels,” and even though Christ’s glory may seem hidden, it is there waiting to be discovered, and not always when we’re deliberately looking for it. We must remain motivated and persistent in our search for his glory. It is up to us to reveal that glory to unsuspecting travellers who cross our paths.

The treasures of God’s kingdom are not of material value. They touch the soul and are visible to those who seek them. As Thomas Merton wrote, “Life is this simple: We are living in a world that is absolutely transparent, and the divine is shining through it all the time.”

We need to open our eyes and hearts to the glory shining in this transparent world. While it is fun to seek geocaches and hidden treasures, we should seek and share “omnicaches,” or the unlimited, intangible treasures of the Divine.