The annual Easter egg hunt was a family tradition when I was young, as it was with most families. My dad would hide the multicolored plastic eggs here and there, often at my grandparents’ farm. Then off I would go, armed with my colorful woven Easter basket.

I would poke through the flower beds, peer around bushes and into garden pots, and reach up into the thick branches of the mulberry tree. One never knew where an egg might be hidden, and that was the fun of it.

It wasn’t until I was an adult with children of my own that I learned why plastic eggs came apart. They were supposed to contain candy and little toys! I truly was flabbergasted, which I realize now sounds absurd. I couldn’t believe that kids had to be bribed with candy to search for eggs.

My daughters loved the hunt and the treats. But to my delight, they also would take turns hiding the eggs to see what their sister could discover. Often, we would find one or two in the flower beds the next spring.  I had friends who searched for real dyed eggs, so I guess the prize for them was deviled egg salad later.

So why tell you this? Because I believe the process of hunting is frequently the true prize. And it makes me sad that we teach our children to value the treasure over the pursuit.

It is the journey that builds our strength, resilience, and problem-solving ability. The joy of discovery has been celebrated by many prominent scientists.

 “The prize is the pleasure of finding the thing out,” wrote Richard P. Feynman, one of the most renowned physicists of the 20th century. He made huge contributions to our understanding of the universe and was co-awarded the Nobel Prize for Physics in 1965.

Isaac Asimov, a renowned author and biochemist, echoed that sentiment: “The true delight is in the finding out rather than in the knowing.” Both men believed the work, the inquiry, was of more value than external accolades.

The Bible speaks of this as well.

It emphasizes that dedication in seeking spiritual truth and understanding can lead to a richer and more meaningful relationship with God and man.

“For if you keep seeking it (understanding and insight) like a man would seek for sterling silver, searching in hidden places for cherished treasure, then you will find . . . the true knowledge of God.” Proverbs 2:4-5 TPT

And so, I continue to believe an empty egg can be a treasure. The reward is the thrill of the hunt and the lessons learned along the way.

Wishing you a blessed Easter.