Fall is here. The trees are dressed in their colorful garb of green and orange and yellow and gold. Fall reminds us that this world is a place of beauty. Fall reminds us of what is most important in life; and of what is not important.
January 1848: Gold is discovered at Sutter's Fort, Calif. The news travels back across the country. 1849: The Gold Rush begins. People left everything in their rush to find gold.
Why the "rush?" They wanted to be the first ones to stake their claim, and to find the gold. They wanted to get the gold before anyone else laid claim to it. Why was gold so important to people? The mid-1880s were troubled times: -- the country was in an economic slump, businesses were closing, people had lost their jobs -- there was no solution in sight. Gold was the answer to all their problems.
Yet, for many, gold was not the answer. Most had no experience in mining. Digging for gold was hard work. Many did find gold. Some spent their gold on whiskey and women. Some killed, or were killed, for their gold. Some made a fortune at the gambling tables, others lost a fortune there. Some found what they thought was gold, but was in reality fool's gold. And some never came back home.
The modern Gold Rush is on. These, too, are troubled times: our country is in financial trouble, businesses are closing, many have lost jobs, there is no solution in sight. Gold is still seen as the solution to all our problems. People rush to buy a Lottery ticket in hopes of striking it rich.
People rush to the gambling boats in hopes of winning big. Alas, the gold we find, and put our trust in, only makes fools of us. Gold does not solve our problems. Gold does not bring us happiness or peace of mind or love. Worst of all, gold does not last.
The gold of the autumn leaves reminds us that God has given us a Rock more valuable than all the gold in the world. Christ, the Rock, provides a solid foundation for our lives. When we build on the Rock, we have happiness and peace and love. And, this Rock will last forever.
Dr. Don Kuehle is a retired United Methodist minister who lives in Jackson. Opinions are those of the author.
Religion on 10/19/2017