Thought for the Week: Diamonds

Coal is made of carbon, is black and used for fuel. Diamonds are also made from carbon. Both substances have mixed with other chemicals under heat and pressure beneath the earth’s surface. They are billions of years old. It is unlikely that people would pay vast sums of money for a piece of coal! However, diamonds are of considerable worth and said to be ‘a girl’s best friend’ worn in ear rings, rings and necklaces.

Diamonds have the highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any natural material, so are used extensively in industry. In their natural state they do not show the exquisiteness within; it takes a skilled craftsman to cut the facets in a gemstone to make it reflect the light and sparkle. They often show their vivaciousness best, when laid on a black velvet background.

People are often described as ‘rough diamonds’. We need to interact with others to ‘polish’ our edges. It is the difficulties and the knocks that we encounter and how we survive them that reveal our true depth of character and our charm. We are not promised an easy life and we will only be able to empathise with others if we have been through similar circumstances. Adversity is not pleasurable, but it shows the best in us, if we will let it and reflects our own inner beauty. In the Old Testament in the Bible, we are told that God can see the ‘precious stone’ within us.

“The LORD does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart." 1 Samuel 16:7

He affirms His followers will become His special treasure.

“They shall be mine,” says the LORD of hosts, “On the day that I make them My jewels.” Malachi 3:17

Marian Nash, member of the Christian faith

Date: Monday 8th February 2021