Treasure in Earthen Vessels

Treasure in Earthen Vessels

Beverly Hawkins

The headline was ordinary:
Town buys abandoned home
for downtown revitalization project.
Town officials themselves unlock the vault,
Sealed for decades, smelling of time-stood-still.
Martine sorts through boxes and bags—
Old socks, moth-eaten sweaters,
Yellowed papers, musty books,
Coffee tins, pickle jars...

Pickle jars? But wait,
They are heavy and they shine.
Shining pickle jars?
Yes, shining with gold pieces
And heavy with gold bars.
A half-million treasure guarded by
Cobwebs and clinging ivy,
Disguised in dust and
Hidden in, of all things,

Pickle jars.
Hmph.
A bit like me.
I am the pickle jar.
He is the Gold.
Shining and
Heavy.

---

Beverly Hawkins
Missionary & Poet

Beverly is a missionary in France where she and her husband have served for nearly 3 decades. She loves art of all kinds: piano, singing, kirigami, painting, iPad art, cooking, sewing, arts and crafts of all kinds, and, of course, poetry.  Beverly is a proud mom of three great kids who love the Lord and ever prouder grandma to six “grands”.  Their family is “close” even though we are spread out over 12 time zones (from Taiwan, through France and on to GA and KY in the US). One of Beverly’s passions is intentionally intersecting her life of faith with my passion for creativity and helping others engage with the Word in a creative way. 

Photography by Ruth Chan