Dear Keller,
Happy birthday #7 my young grandson!
I thoroughly enjoyed our birthday clue hunt yesterday all around North Raleigh. You did a great job deciphering all the clues and getting us where we needed to be.
I have always loved a good clue hunt. About 35 years ago, when I was a student pastor in Raleigh, I started doing a clue hunt all over town for our students. We would load up as many cars as we needed with about 5-6 students and a driver each and send them out in search of their first clue. Which would lead them to the next clue. Which would lead them to the next clue. Usually there were about 10 clues per hunt and the first team back to the church would win an unbelievable prize. There may or may not have been some speeding limits exceeded and mail boxes run over in an effort to claim first place.
When I moved from Raleigh to Durham in 1993 I did the clue hunt for another 15 years until I transitioned out of student ministry. So I have no little experience in coming up with clues to challenge the mind and stump even the most brilliant of teenagers.
We called the clue hunt “The Shamus Adventure.” I picked this name for two reasons: 1) It was a play on my name – I even have some people who call me “Shamus” and 2) The word shamus is a slang word meaning detective. So it just seemed to fit.
Also, one of my favorite genres of fictional reading is murder mysteries – and I find myself trying to figure out the whodunit before all the clues are even revealed. I do love a good clue hunt.
Perhaps this is why I love the Bible so much.
- In Judges 14 we see that Samson (one of the original Hall of Faith inductees in Hebrews 11) loved a good clue hunt.
- There are clues throughout the Older Testament that reveal who the Messiah will be long before He even shows up on history’s doorstep.
- There are clues throughout the Scriptures that reveal how to have a blessed and joy-fueled life.
- There are clues throughout the Bible that reveal the secrets to good parenting and great marriages.
- There are clues throughout the New Testament that help us to understand the mystery of why a holy and righteous God would want to adopt you and me into His family – given that we are far from holy and righteous ourselves.
- There are clues throughout God’s Word that will even help you to navigate the next 15 years of your young life as you deal with lots of challenges and changes.
So maybe you can understand a little better just why I do love a good clue hunt. And I hope that you will always love a good clue hunt too as you are on your own personal Shamus Adventure. Just as you figured out all the clues yesterday I have no doubt that the clues that you find along the way will lead you exactly to where you need to go. And here is your next clue…
“Stand at the crossroads and look;
ask for the ancient paths,
ask where the good way is, and walk in it,
and you will find rest for your souls.” (Jeremiah 6:16)
Never forget that you are very loved,
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