Treasure Island

(3 Minute Read. 22May2024)

Recently we camped at the southern end of Higgins Lake, a large two-lobed 9,900-acre lake in Michigan. We camped right where the red star on the lake map is. We were only about a stone’s throw from the shore. (Click map to enlarge.)

The gold island in the southeastern part of the northern lobe of the lake is popularly known as Treasure Island. Its official name is Flynn Island as labeled on the map.

The island is also known as Hermit Island because of Ezra Pritchard (1828-1902) who lived there as a hermit for nearly 20 years. He is the one who many believe buried money somewhere on the 30-acre island. Is buried money doing Ezra any good right now?

The Hermit

Ezra and his wife Susan welcomed their first child Houghton in 1868 in Roscommon, Michigan, where Ezra had settled following service in the Civil War. Five years later in 1873 when Susan was pregnant with twins, Ezra accidentally shot her in the leg with a shotgun. The babies were stillborn, and Susan’s leg had to be amputated. But she did not survive the operation. What could sustain you personally amid this kind of trauma and tragedy?

Ezra Pritchard, the island hermit

Twelve years later in 1885, Ezra’s son Edwin was murdered by ex-logger Thomas Goodrow who shot Edwin in the head with a shotgun.

Following these four tragic deaths, Ezra secluded himself on Flynn Island for the remainder of his life. Some speculated he did this to hide from authorities who were after him for murdering his wife. Others think it was to hide treasure. Was hiding treasure an effective or enduring benefit to Ezra?

Ezra lived in an old shack and hunter’s dugout on the island till his death. In 1902, his body was discovered in the old dugout. He had only stubs for fingers, which had apparently been frozen and fallen off. He was buried in a pauper’s grave in Roscommon.

Higgins Lake

The Treasure

Ezra was believed to have amassed a considerable amount of money from being a bounty jumper during the Civil War. Bounty jumpers were paid from $300 to $500 to replace men who did not want to serve in the Union Army. Pritchard supposedly did this for three years while collecting bounties for many men in seven different states.

Alone on the island and living off the land and the lake, he had few expenses. Locals believe that Ezra must have buried treasure somewhere on the small island. But nobody has yet found it.

Real Treasure

I did not spend any time looking for the treasure while we camped nearby. I am seeking to focus on a different kind of high-value treasure:
The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring forever;
The judgments of the Lord are true; they are righteous altogether.
They are more desirable than gold, yes, than much fine gold;
Sweeter also than honey and the drippings of the honeycomb.
Moreover, by them Your servant is warned;
In keeping them there is great reward. (Psalm 19:9-11)
The law of Your mouth is better to me
Than thousands of gold and silver pieces. (Psalm 119:72)
Therefore I love Your commandments
Above gold, yes, above fine gold. (Psalm 119:127)

Learning about this legend of treasure on Hermit Island reminded me of Jesus’ words about handling treasure.
Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys, and where thieves do not break in or steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. (Matthew 6:19-21)

How do we store up treasure in heaven?

Basically, it is by trusting in Jesus Christ for salvation and then living life according to Biblical principles.

Here are several verses that explain how to store up treasure in heaven:
He has told you, O man, what is good;
And what does the Lord require of you
But to do justice, to love kindness,
And to walk humbly with your God? (Micah 6:8)
Instruct those who are rich in this present world not to be conceited or to fix their hope on the uncertainty of riches, but on God, who richly supplies us with all things to enjoy. Instruct them to do good, to be rich in good works, to be generous and ready to share, storing up for themselves the treasure of a good foundation for the future, so that they may take hold of that which is life indeed. (1 Timothy 6:17-19)

Questions to Ponder

1. Psalm 34:18 says The LORD is near to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit. How does this apply to the urge to seek hermit status after trauma?
2. Who around you is dealing with tragedy and needs a compassionate friend to stand by with quiet support?
3. What feels like a treasure in your life that you’re tempted to bury? What’s a more Biblical way to handle it?

Share your thoughts on these questions in the comments below. It could encourage or help another reader.

For Christ and His Kingdom.
Alere Flammam Veritatis.
Soli Deo Gloria.

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©William T. Pelletier, Ph.D.
“contending earnestly for the faith”
“destroying speculations against the knowledge of God”
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(Jude 1:3; 2 Cor 10:5; Phil 1:16)
Wednesday, May 22, 2024 A.D.

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