Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate

Who would expect words of real wisdom from the mouth of a pirate – an extremely strange one at that? But if anyone is always good for a surprise, it is Captain Jack Sparrow. He truly does not live up to the initial accusation that he is the worst pirate one has ever seen. On the contrary, he proves to be the best of his guild, even if or precisely because his manner is not what one would expect from a pirate.

Jack Sparrow is not only nefarious, daring, of questionable morals, a little dirty and a bit addicted to rum – admittedly he is all that – but he is also clever and sharp-tongued (and a little insane). Moreover, he has certainly experienced quite a lot and had to overcome many obstacles single-handedly. All this allows his wisdom to shine through here and there, which sometimes irritates his companions.

One of the people Jack often confuses is Will Turner. The two met at the beginning of the first Pirates of the Caribbean adventure when Barbossa, who probably lives up to every preconception about pirates, kidnapped Elizabeth Swan in search of Aztec amulets and the child of “Bootstrap” Bill Turner, whose blood was required to lift a curse. Barbossa believed he had found in her the child he was looking for.

Will, who wants to save his beloved Elizabeth, secures the help of Jack Sparrow, who is pursuing his own goals and had long since discovered that Will is in fact the one who is being looked for. So the unlikely duo, who trust each other no further than absolutely necessary, capture a ship and hire a crew to take up Barbossa’s pursuit. Almost at their destination, one of the situations occurs in which Jack says something astonishing:

Jack Sparrow: You know, for having such a bleak outlook on pirates, you’re well on your way to becoming one. Sprung a man from jail, commandeered a ship of the fleet, sailed with a buccaneer crew out of Tortuga and you’re completely obsessed with treasure!
Will Turner: That’s not true. I am not obsessed with treasure.
Jack Sparrow: Not all treasure is silver and gold, mate.

Will and Jack on the hunt for Barbossa and a treasure or two

My main concern is the last sentence. The information is not new: valuable things do not always have to be thought of in a material way. But when a pirate of all people says this – since pirates are legendary treasure hunters – it is perhaps worth taking a closer look at the wisdom in it.

Not only does Jack say that treasure can be thought of abstractly, but he also says that people are willing to risk a great deal in order not to lose it. No possession, no social status, no prejudice is more important than the preciousness found. And indeed, the metaphor of treasure is so apt that we even find it once again in the Bible:

The kingdom of heaven is like treasure hidden in a field, which a man found and covered up. Then in his joy he goes and sells all that he has and buys that field.

Matthew 13,44

Thus God also sends us on a treasure hunt, at the end of which not gold and jewels await us, but something infinitely more valuable. If we reach the X at the end of our path, we will find wealth that we cannot even imagine! And best of all, everything we need for the quest is already given to us. We don’t need anything except ourselves – and perhaps we will be amazed at what else we can find during our search…

22 And he said to his disciples, “Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on. 31 Instead, seek his kingdom, and these things will be added to you. 32 Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom. 33 Sell your possessions, and give to the needy. Provide yourselves with moneybags that do not grow old, with a treasure in the heavens that does not fail, where no thief approaches and no moth destroys. 34 For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also.”

Luke 12,22.31-34