What do you see when you look upon the object above? Take your time. Think about it. When you get your answer, keep it in your head. I ask this question because it can be used as a test. A test to differentiate from being simple-minded or being a complex-minded individual. Now, back to your answer. When you looked at the diamond, the first thing that came to mind was probably wealth, a common aspect of a diamond. They can bring people wealth or they can symbolize that their owners' are wealthy and powerful. There is so much more to a diamond that the common eye fails to see. There is much more complexity to a diamond than the temporary benefits of wealth. You become complex-minded when you begin to see the correlation between diamonds and people.
In order to fully understand and comprehend this principle, we must start from the beginning. We must know about the natural diamond itself. Diamonds are formed from high-temperatures and high pressure. They do not form naturally on the Earth's surface or in shallow depths. The conditions where they can form are in the mantle of the Earth about 100 miles below the surface. It is ultimately the hardest natural substance! Diamonds are so hard that the only tools that can be used to cut a diamond must be made from another diamond. The value of a diamond is based upon its carat weight, clarity, color, and the quality of its cut. Most diamonds are in a color range that runs from clear, to yellow, to brown. The colorless receive the highest grade and are worth the most.
That's the basic understanding of a diamond, but what is the basic understanding of people? All people are brought into this world miraculously through the womb of a woman. From birth, we are presented with God-given rights. These three God-given rights consist of the rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. Each individual lives their lives in pursuit of their dreams. Everyone wants to live their life to the fullest. People are born, then they live, and then they grow old and die. People are valued by what they have, what they have done and what they will do. People are made into who they are by the experiences they go through in life.
Now, let us compare the two. Metaphorically speaking, people can be like the starting minerals of a diamond. When enough pressure is applied to a person, then something beautiful will happen. They will turn into a diamond in the rough. The pressure for people usually comes from life and what life pushes each individual into. It is truly a beautiful process. Just like a diamond must be sharpened by another diamond, people are also sharpened by other people. The right people could push someone to reach heights they never even thought imaginable. We were meant to learn from each other and grow. A diamond's beauty comes from its outside appearance, but a person's beauty comes from the inside and how they live their life. People have been and will always be God's diamonds. Sometimes it just takes a little outside thinking to see the much deeper meanings in life.
So I challenge you. Live your life and become a diamond in the process. The world has enough coal. It needs more brightly shining diamonds. Never fear struggles. There are going to be plenty of struggles throughout life, so you might as well embrace them. It's the pressure from these struggles that will ultimately shape you into a magnificent diamond.
