Amongst all the key information occasions which have occurred over the previous few weeks, there was a comparatively minor one which in all probability solely mattered to a small, area of interest viewers. This story has been trickling out since June 6 or so, however the “treasure” of Forrest Fenn has been discovered. By no means heard of it? That’s not stunning.

I first heard about Forrest Fenn’s treasure again in 2015. The TV present “Expedition Unknown,” that includes Josh Gates, showcased the story. What struck me concerning the story is that, in contrast to most tales of “buried treasure,” the person who buried this treasure not solely was nonetheless alive, however he was actively giving clues the place it was buried. I’ve learn or heard loads of tales of buried treasure — even a pair round Northeast Alabama — and most of them are to this point again previously and are so poorly documented that they’re extra legend than something. Forrest Fenn, then again, was proper there on digital camera, telling folks what he had performed and why.

Many individuals already knew about it by the point I heard. After Fenn buried his treasure, he self-published an autobiography in 2010 titled “The Thrill of the Chase.” The guide has a poem with clues to the situation of the treasure chest. Sure, there was a literal treasure chest. That half is well-known. The remainder of my factual info is taken from a Smithsonian journal on-line article by Alex Fox titled “Decade-Lengthy Seek for Rocky Mountains Treasure Yields Trove Price $2 Million.”

Y’all learn that proper — Forrest Fenn left a small bronze chest filled with gold, gems and artworks value $2 million out within the Rocky Mountains someplace between New Mexico and Montana for a stranger to seek out … after which left clues about the place it was. Why? Fenn, a former Air Drive fighter pilot through the Vietnam Conflict and proprietor of an artwork gallery in Santa Fe, New Mexico, had been identified with most cancers and advised it was terminal, however he recovered. He hid the treasure to encourage folks to get exterior and expertise the outside.

They usually did. Reportedly, hundreds have looked for the treasure during the last decade. Some have reportedly give up jobs and moved on the market, spending their life financial savings to look. Wherever from two to 5 folks (relying on the information supply) have died looking for it. There have been lawsuits over it, accusations that it’s all a hoax and requests from authorities for Fenn to take away the treasure due to questions of safety. When it was lastly discovered, Fenn introduced it on his web site and revealed solely {that a} man “from again East” had discovered it and wished to stay nameless. Fenn confirmed the discover by means of images the finder despatched him.

These are the “naked bones” info. Over the past 5 years, I’ve learn any information article concerning the treasure that I might discover. More often than not, frankly, I’m skeptical of tales of treasures. Like I wrote earlier, the factor that caught my consideration about this story was that I by no means doubted that Forrest Fenn had truly buried a treasure, that it was on the market someplace the place he stated it was, and that finally somebody would discover it. Nonetheless, by no means did I ever really feel impressed to go on the lookout for it myself. I’m simply not a literal treasure-hunting kind of man.

It didn’t actually shock me after I noticed the primary information throughout the web that somebody had discovered Fenn’s treasure. What did shock me — what merely by no means ceases to shock me — is that my each day Bible studying across the identical time “kind of” mentions the treasure in a metaphorical manner. In my “learn the Bible by means of in a 12 months” studying, I’d simply began Proverbs, and Proverbs 2.4-5 reads (within the NIV): “… And if you happen to search for [wisdom] as for silver and seek for it as for hidden treasure, then you’ll perceive the worry of the Lord and discover the data of God.” The guide of Proverbs typically refers to knowledge as a treasure — silver, gold or gems — and encourages folks to seek for it. That’s why I used to be delighted when the information hit that Fenn’s treasure had been discovered.

And it’s not only a matter of religion, both. I’ve at all times looked for hidden treasure in books — that’s simply my nature. I do know that I can’t “spend” the treasures that I discover in books like I might have spent Fenn’s treasure. However that hasn’t mattered to me in a very long time. There’s merely extra in life than cash; “That means,” nonetheless we outline it, can be the good treasure, I believe.

That’s why I’m delighted that somebody who discovered which means in actually looking for buried treasure discovered it. I do know the finder needs to stay nameless, however his story can be a great one. I’d love to listen to it, so I hope the finder tells his story. Possibly in a guide? I’d purchase that one.

I’d additionally purchase a guide from Forrest Fenn telling his additional story, now that the treasure has been discovered. I didn’t purchase his first one, however I believe I might take pleasure in listening to the entire story now.

David Murdock is an English teacher at Gadsden State Neighborhood School. He might be contacted at murdockcolumn@yahoo.com. The opinions mirrored are his personal.