Found Hearts by Rick Ruggles

I discovered the website, Found Hearts by Rick Ruggles during one of my google searches for 'heart rocks'. A fellow heart rock collector listed his site on her blog as a 'must see'...

With a keen eye and passionate vision, Rick Ruggles, captures inspiring and awesome images of hearts found in nature and the world around us. His creative vision speaks to the love that can be found all around...open your eyes and your heart and enjoy these beautiful images.

Heart Rock Shrine

"How deep is your love?" See how one couple's commitment of love found expression over time. Visit Daniela's travel blog, Mountainshine, to read how while treking through the Grand Canyon, she stumbled upon this amazing heart rock 'shrine'.

Click here for more details about the origins of the heart rock 'shrine'.

Be Still My Heart

Love everlasting...symbols of love...sweet 'heart stones' as described by this Californian blogger remind us that love is everywhere...you need only look for it.

Click on the link to learn more...Somewhere in Time (Linda's Blog)

Heart Shaped Rock

Ann shares a 'priceless' heart rock story of how a simple heart rock changed the heart of a tough Army Drill Seargeant. Read the rest of the story on her blog, Runandsew Quilts.

Blessed-By-Many-Hearts

Read Bridget's blog to learn more about her growing heart rock collection, check out South City Musings: Tower Grove, St. Louis, Missouri: If you try sometimes, you might find...

Additional posts:
Blessed by Many Hearts ~ heart rocks found/shared
Heart Rocks ~
I Love Heart Rocks

Willfull Grace: Heart Shaped Rocks

Check out Pam Ferguson's collection of heart-shaped Rocks on her blog, Willful Grace.

A River of Grace Flows Through You...

Learn the inspiration behind Kathryn Knoll's discovery of heart-shaped rocks. Check out her blog, Hearth Talks

Transformation of the Heart

© 2007 Kimberly Nyce ~ Writings from the Heart-Rock Collection

Walking in the woods today, I felt as I have so many times on my solitary walks - a sense of longing and hunger for God. Thoughts swirled in mind...silence is what I truly desired.

So much of life is wasted on thoughts that deplete, defeat and leave one feeling empty and hungry for something more substantial, life giving and satisfying.

Then Jesus declared, "I am the bread of life. He who comes to me will never go hungry, and he who believes in me will never be thirsty." ~John 6:35 NIV

Nothing in this world (be it a person, place or thing) can fill that space within that craves love - that hungers for peace and contentment. It's a place that only God's love can fill, to truly satisfy. His love is overflowing, abundant and poured out, if we will only receive it. But...sometimes the heart (the will) is unable to receive this love. The walls of bitterness and resentment hedge us in; at other times, our heart have turned to stone - full of fear, broken-hearted over life - unable to feel, to breathe, to open to the joy and pain of life.

"I will give you a new heart and put a new spirit in you; I will remove from you your heart of stone and give you a heart of flesh." ~ Ezekiel 36:26-27 (NIV)

When I read this scripture, 'heart' rocks came to mind which remind me (tangible evidence for me) that God's love is available, everpresent and patiently awaiting my invitation to receive it. When I look for it (in people, places, and things) I cannot find it. When I let go and let God bring me what I need (in His time), I am filled to overflowing.

To seek God first. To surrender your heart. To be content only in Him. I prayed that I might find a heart rock that would resemble the growing and expanding heart of Christ within me.

I found a large rock resembling a heart, though it wasn't quite perfect. It didn't express the perfect love of Christ that I longed for. I continued on my walk - determined to not settle for less than perfection.

Just as I released a prayer from my heart...I looked down at the trail before me. A perfect heart-shaped rock lay patiently in the earth, awaiting my notice. It was three dimensional - expansive and perfectly shaped on both sides. Another rock for my growing collection.

Christ's love is perfect. Why do I seek love from other sources which do not fill me? They only drain me of my hope and dreams. I'm left still longing - hungry and demanding to be satiated.

God can fill that longing, but first, I must I surrender and admit my weakness and brokeness. I surrender into God's powerful loving hands, my life and will to mold and shape as He so desires for his purposes.

The transformation of heart begins...

Heartrock (pictured above) discovered while meditating by a brook behind the Wilson House in East Dorset, VT. 1993

Glacial Heart

Tasman Lake is a terminal lake formed at the receding edge of the Tasman Glacier in Aoraki/Mount Cook National Park on the South Island in New Zealand. In early December 2007, while on vacation, I took a boat tour of the lake in order to view the glacier and to see icebergs up close. Only 10% of the volume of these icebergs is visible above the water line. Some of the icebergs were rather large. On one of the smaller icebergs, we were able to dock the boat, climb onto it, and explore. These icebergs contain both rock and rock flour (pulverized rock material). I was looking around and spotted this heart rock encased in its own impression. The dark rock had absorbed more sunlight than the surrounding ice causing the ice around the rock to melt faster. This heart rock was formed through the forces of frozen water rather than flowing water and, as a result, is more angular in shape. I was tempted to call it Iceberg Heart, but Glacial Heart sounds more poetic.

Rye on the Rocks

"I will give them a heart to know me, that I am the LORD. They will be my people, and I will be their God, for they will return to me with all their heart." ~Jeremiah 24:7 NIV

On a warm Fall afternoon, the solace of the coast beckoned my spirit. My car instinctively headed north, winding its way up towards the coastline of NH. I strolled along the shoreline; my eyes scanning the thousands of rocks that stretched before me...searching for a heart rock.

Lounging on the rocky shores of Rye Beach (a place of refuge during the storms of life), I shielded my eyes from the glare of the mid-day sun. The sunlight danced on the water; diamond dust sprinkled the waters creating a magical display. The tide gently swept across the shore, caressing the changing and shifting sands - an intimate gesture that seemed to capture the simplest and purest form of love. After years of disappointments, my heart seemed closed to the idea of love.

A single question occupied my mind, "What would you risk to find love...to abandon your heart into the awaiting arms of love?" How does one open one's heart to love again? Pondering the thought, I noticed a heart rock submerged in the sand. Leaning forward, my arm fell slightly short of its grasp. A wave crested and washed over the shore sending me stumbling backwards nearly escaping a soggy mishap. Would I venture into the tumultuous waters to risk capturing this latest discovery for my collection? Was it worth the risk? Would it satisfy me if I discovered upon closer inspection that it wasn't the 'one' that I expected, hoped for or desired? What then? Would I throw it back into the waters -- defeated and determined to abandon all hope of ever finding another one?

God's gentle whisper spoke to my reticent heart..."You will never find love standing at the shores of life, afraid to risk getting wet."

RISK. Just the thought of this word caused a spasm in my stomach; fear gripped me. Would I risk heartache again? Would I risk the pain of opening up to love, only to be hurt by life's disappointments, altered plans and unrequited love?

Opening my heart again would surely cause pain, wouldn't it? On the other hand, would I risk missing this opportunity before me...only to add this moment to the long list of 'lost opportunities'?

Before I could finish the thought, my body lunged towards the rock. Emerging from the depths of the sea, my arm (now soaked) held tight this sacred find. A heart rock, slightly imperfect (not nearly the kind I anticipated or hoped for when I first set eyes on it) lay heavy in my palm. At that moment, the tide swept up and over my sneakers soaking them through to my socks.

Sometimes in life, you have to take the risk. The first steps (usually the most difficult) sometimes result in getting a little wet, a little bruised, and a little heartbroken. Other times, you're totally submerged in a swirling sea of joy bursting from this new experience of an awakening heart.

As I continued my walk, I realized that one simple action (a risk) opened a small window of my heart. It was just enough to desire more risk...to continue to seek love whatever the cost. Disappointment, pain, heartache and loss cannot be avoided in life. But, always there is greater love...a deeper love...a more pure form of love to be found. And so...as the day's journey neared it's close, there amidst the rocky shores of life, I found an even greater love -
the love of myself (with all my imperfections), the love of life, and the love of God.

Would I seek God will all my heart? Would I allow God's love to reawaken my heart?

Love is patient, love is kind, love can be found...but you must be willing to take the 'risk' in order to discover it.

~ Writings from The Heart Rock Collective