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Herculaneum
On my way to a recent meeting in Rome, I was blessed to spend a day in Herculaneum – the wealthy city destroyed, buried, and preserved under Mt. Vesuvius’ AD 79 eruption. It is one of the finest-preserved ruins I have experienced, in my opinion far surpassing nearby Pompeii.
While in Herculaneum, I watched an archeologist digging through a volcanic pile of rock inside a 1st century villa. Her painstaking efforts will yield items that likely appear as junk to most modern people. Yet every bit of that “junk” – the buried detritus of a bygone day – will uncover great information about the past. The comb I watched her extract spoke to routines of life. The stunning gold jewelry in the small museum nearby tells of celebratory moments, while the bones still visible in the boat dock below the villa testify to a cataclysm that changed the world. Extracting, sifting, and examining each piece, the digger is doing an important work for us all because the better we understand the past, the more prepared we are to learn from and build upon it.
Cataclysms, special celebrations, and customary routines
This principle is true in a personal sense as well. Each year in our earthly lives is comprised of steady, even tedious routines; exciting moments of celebration; and a sprinkling of cataclysms. It is important to occasionally dig through the layers of silt and rock that cover our memory. With the Lord’s guidance, we can sift and examine each piece, using that knowledge to bless the days to come.
To assist, I have included a brief guide below.
- Vesuvius moments
What recent cataclysms have most rocked your personal world?
In a few words, what positives have you learned from these? What scar tissue might be causing problems?
- Routines
What aspects of your daily routine do you enjoy most?
What about your regular weekly schedule brings the most joy?
What about your monthly rhythm do you delight in most?
What aspects of your work drain the most energy from you?
What good things do you see those “thorns & thistles” achieving in your character?
- Special celebrations
What big events bring you energy, even when they are exhausting?
What big event are you most likely to dread?
What success do you think has gone underappreciated this year?
Has any failing been over-emphasized?
God bless,
Wayne