Thoughtful Thursday

Let’s Rock!

Sisters are wonderful! At least, mine are. As we have gotten older, and our kids are grown and on their own, we have decided that we would celebrate, “Sister Day,” once a month. Each sister, in turn, would select a favorite place to visit and spend the day together. We visited places like Cumberland Falls State Park, with its beautiful waterfall. It’s called, “The Niagara of the South.” We visited the Knoxville Zoo, and had a great day with the animals. We went to Dolly Parton’s Stampede, and enjoyed a great meal and a show. Sometimes, we may just have a picnic in the park. It didn’t matter where we went, or what we saw, as long as we made time to spend the day together.

Recently, it was my sister, Betty’s turn to choose how we would spend our day. She called me and said, “Have you ever heard of the Red Bird Petroglyph?” I searched my brain to see if I could remember. I took pride in knowing most historical places of interest pertaining to my home state of Kentucky. I knew where Red Bird, Kentucky was, but I wasn’t familiar with any petroglyphs. “No,” I answered. “I haven’t heard of that.”

She went on to explain that the Red Bird Petroglyphs were known since pioneer days, and they were enrolled on the National Record of Historic Sites. In 1994, a huge stone fell from a cliff, and rolled onto Highway 66 in Red Bird, Kentucky. Upon examination, it was discovered that the massive stone contained ancient markings, dating back to the 9th century B.C. At least eight Old World Alphabets are engraved on it. These alphabets were extinct when Columbus came to the New World in 1492.

Well, who knew? I was intrigued that something famous was so near to my hometown. We discovered that the stone had been moved to the county seat of Clay County, which is Manchester, Kentucky. 

So, we embarked on the hour long quest to find the place where this phenomenon was enshrined. It was located in a city park. The stone, itself, was about twenty feet long, sat on a concrete slab, and was protected from the elements by a roof over the top of it. A small slatted wooden fence was around it, so that spectators couldn’t get too close. A sign within the pavilion read, “Of all the hundreds of important, translatable and published inscriptions in the U.S.A., this was the first one to have been given official protection.”

What an interesting day! At first, I was hesitant to go see, what I thought was, “just a rock,” but I’m glad I did! As I reflected on this magnificent stone that we had learned about that day, I was reminded that, even though this was an important stone, Jesus Christ is the cornerstone of our faith…not just a cornerstone, but the Chief Cornerstone!

He doesn’t have to be protected…He is the protector!

He doesn’t have to be enshrined by earthly means…He lives within our heart!

Better yet…He is sitting at the right hand of God, and He’s coming someday to take us home to Heaven! 

We can learn of Him through words inscribed in God’s Holy Word!
As a matter of fact, He IS The Word!

We don’t have to travel to see Him…He is here!

So, today, my prayer comes from the book of Psalms:

“From the ends of the earth I call to you. I call as my heart grows faint; lead me to the rock that is higher than I.”   Psalm 61:2

How about you? Do you know this Rock? Are you familiar with Him? I urge you to draw closer to Him, learn of Him, and tell others about Him. You’ll be glad you did!

Have a Great Thursday.