The rather unscientific word, “dirt,” is not very appealing to us but in my partnership with Solomon (TSJ’s sheep that represents our inner voice of nitty gritty wisdom), dirt has a down to earth and unadorned appeal that accurately represents practical spirituality. This is the kind of spirituality that has never been sanitized.
So just for fun and personal reflection, let us wander into Solomon’s pastures for a little lesson on finding our own treasure. 
Solomon is very comfortable talking about dirt so I am learning to be okay with it too. I have been listening to what I call Solomon’s “woolly wisdom” because, after all, he IS the woolly type of sheep. And while the Bible compares us to sheep and shepherds, Solomon likes to remind me that we are not “real sheep.” Maybe it is like the difference between simulated or synthetic diamonds and real diamonds. They have overlapping characteristics but there are real differences. Today’s focus is on the gemstones, or real diamonds.
Suppose you were out taking a walk in a field and discovered a real diamond in the dirt. Can you imagine how you would feel? What would you do?”
If you are like the man in a scriptural version of the story (from the gospel of Matthew), you would likely bury it. Then with great joy you would sell everything else so you could buy that field. By so doing you can own the diamond fair and square, free and clear. It would be your treasure and your responsibility.
I think one way to interpret the metaphor is to be aware that once you discover something valuable or precious, you joyfully let other attachments go and invest in your treasure. But it also implies you would bury it until you did fully own it. Otherwise, everyone would tell you what to do with it or lure you away from it, convincing you that it is not all that valuable. It strikes me that is similar to how we lose ourselves amidst the voices that try to own us. Sometimes we never buy the field and wistfully think about how to get the buried treasure another way.
Today, stop for one minute and imagine . . . you are the diamond in the dirt.
But what is dirt? I am using it to mean the soil of our very souls, that which feeds our Essence. In nitty gritty terms, dirt consists of stones, sand, clays and humus (dead plants and animals that are slowly being consumed by organisms like fungi, bacteria, insects, mites, and worms).
How are diamonds formed? They are formed over a long period of time through pressure, heat, and the alchemy of carbons and other elements. Eventually it gets churned and heaved through volcanic processes to appear near the earth’s surface. It is then ready to be washed, cut, and polished and reveal its intrinsic worth.
DID YOU KNOW . . .
*Diamonds show up or are more visible after deep volcanic eruptions?
*Diamond is a material with super physical qualities and has the “highest hardness and thermal conductivity of any bulk material?” (Wikepedia.org)
*Diamond is both practical (useful for cutting and sharpening tools) and beautiful (but only after being worked on).
*Diamonds reflect and disperse light.
*No two diamonds are alike
How are these things similar to us?
What if you are the treasure? Your hidden dreams, talents, longings for God, for love and belonging, and deep passions actually reflect the light of God and love. Where would you find yourself when you are lost in distractions or buried deep in the soil of doubts, fears, and tears? Truthfully, there is no delicate way to put this, but usually we find our selves, or the “kingdom of God within” in moments of solitude when we turn down the noises of our life.
Once again, love is the light that we reflect back.
Running a race with Cerebral Palsy:
This idea that each of us is like a diamond in the soil of life was driven home to me this week when I watched the news and saw a clip of a young boy with Cerebral Palsy running a race. It was his dream to cross the finish line. Talk about owning the field! And what a treasure he is! Although his mind and body struggled terribly with coordinating movements, he kept going. And when he was near the line and nearly unable to move he was encouraged, surrounded and likely sustained by other children who ran beside him to cheer him on.
Meanwhile, his mother watched with absolute love and pride (and probably bated breath). “That is my son. That is who he is!” she said. And clearly as a mom, she helped him reflect his greatness through the light of her love, acceptance, and encouragement. Again, Diamonds reflect and disperse the light.
While the image of a diamond calls to mind luster, clarity, color, purity, value, durability, and uniqueness . . . remember, in its natural state it looks like a filthy rock.
It takes cleansing, shaping, and polishing to reveal its inherent beauty.
It is not a perfect analogy, but it works.
It is light that reveals the diamond’s inner qualities. And in moments of solitude we can get a glimpse of what it feels like to be radiant in that divine light. When I saw that mother I was deeply moved. Although her child looked different and was different in his physical presentation than others, she saw him as a diamond, a treasure. Because of her light others will also see him as the gem that he is. He reflects love.
And so are you a treasure on this planet. No matter what your brain has been telling you or what the world leads you to believe, the One who created you sees you and shines light upon your heart.
You are a limited edition of one which makes you of limitless value.
Solomon agrees!
