A couple of geological features are mentioned in the Bible readings specified for Friday. One is a pile of stones in the Valley of Achor (Joshua 7). Another is a pile of stones at the gate of a desolate city, Ai (Joshua 8). The Bible records the historical significance of those features to the Jewish people. They serve as memory aids.
In both cases the story of what happened with words similar to these: “And they raised a large pile of rocks over it, which remains to this day.” It makes me wonder about the time frame which is being referenced. Was that the way the stories were told originally? Did the storytellers end their tales with those words? Or were those words added to the tales later when they were being recorded in written form? Does the phrase remain accurate today? Is there a recognizable pile of stones somewhere in Israel that used to be named the Valley of Achor? Is there a discernible heap of rocks somewhere in the Holy Land that in antiquity was named Ai?
More to the point for me, what geographic features serve as memory aids for me, helping me to remember my spiritual heritage, the important lessons of faith learned by experience? How may I savor them? How may I hand those treasures over to my children and my neighbors?
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