Buried Treasure

I had the most unusual, random thought on my way home from work and it led me to something I wanted to share.

Have you seen the movie "Sweet Home Alabama."? Its a cute movie which, despite some inevitable Hollywood pollution does have a solid central theme - love is a choice. My wife and I saw it first when we lived in Georgia. We've also been to the re-enactment field where they filmed the Civil War re-enacters for the movie (its actually near Atlanta, GA) which was kind of a strange feeling. Creepy deja-vue...

ANYWAY, we've seen the movie several times, both before and since we moved here to Alabama. Then, just a couple of weeks ago, it was on TV again and we had it on while we worked in the bedroom, just kind of watching it but not really paying attention when suddenly a small detail jerked my attention up short.

The dog is named "Bryant".

The dog belongs to Jake Perry, the male lead and husband of Melanie "Felony" Smuter Perry, who goes by Melanie Carmichael in her reinvented life in New York City. Jake is apparently your stereotypical Southern Hick - Red-necked, pickup truck, beer in the fridge and worships Alabama Football. Bryant is a typical Southern bloodhound. Bryant is a fun character in the movie. He fetches a bone from the water by jumping in and apparently walking across the bottom (not swimming) to it.

At a tender moment in the movie, we also find out that the couple had another dog before Melanie left (after a tragic miscarriage) which died after she went away.

That first hound was named "Bear".

I have heard these names over and over, but when we were watching the movie the other day it hit me like a thunderbolt.

Bear

Bryant

Bear Bryant

D'OH!

How did I miss that? It was so obvious! Right there, and yet I missed it. I shouted it out. My wife stared (we are both transplants, and we have both learned who Bear Bryant was, of course!) and then we howled!

Wow.

But then the random thought march continued. If there were hidden treasures in something as pedestrian and ultimately valueless as a movie, how much more must there be hidden treasure in God's Word?

I have complained about reading passages over and over. I know others who have done so. But I believe with fervor now that there must be more there to find. Even in the most well-worn passage or verse God has hidden treasure for us.

All we have to do is be willing to dig for it.