Coal or Diamonds?

Making Diamonds

“Sunlight falls the same on a lump of coal and a diamond, but only the diamond reflects the light in brilliant splendor. The carbon in coal has the potential to become a diamond. All it requires is conversion under high pressure.”

Paramahansa Yogananda (The Yoga of Jesus)

I had a grandfather on my mother's side who lived to be 91. His name was Clervy, (really!) but everyone who knew him called him “Pop”. He was always sweet to me, but he was not kind to the rest of the family, especially in his old age. After my grandmother died, he decided to go live in the independent living section of a nursing home. He was the darling of the staff because he participated in everything, grew a little garden which he shared, and talked baby-talk to the nurses, especially the young, pretty ones. To my mother, however, he was mean as a snake. He demanded that she do his laundry, bring him dinner whenever he wanted it, and step and fetch for him. Mother, who was compliant by nature, tried to accommodate. Once, when she brought him a home cooked meal, he flung the plate at her; bounced it off the wall next to her head. That was the only time she walked out without a word. Pop got thrown out of one nursing home for slugging his roommate, and was 'on probation' in another for stealing other peoples' bird feeders. Believe me, he was trouble. And yet he lived a long, long life. I decided God was trying to give him time and opportunity to turn his life around. He never did.

Sometimes we wonder why bad people get away with the terrible things they do. At least, I wonder. I have known many people in my lifetime who had everything they needed to be a leader and an inspiration to others, but chose instead to use their gifts for ill gain, for selfish self-aggrandizement. Jack Abromoff, who could have lived a fine life doing legitimate business, but chose instead to lie and steal and double-cross his clients, is a case in point. Or Bernard Madoff, who by all accounts is brilliant, yet chose to run the largest Ponsi scheme in US history. It's a puzzle, isn't it? Could have been a diamond, but chose to be coal instead.

The Bible tells us that God makes the sun to shine on the good and the bad alike. It is not ours to know why. Still, I like to think that being a diamond has its own reward. People usually become reflectors of the light by having lived life under pressure. It is not the easy life that brings out the best in us, but almost always, the one that is difficult. Life under pressure teaches us to appreciate kindness and to have compassion for others who struggle. I don't think people like Madoff and Abromoff sleep well at night. I'll bet their demons pursue them. Who knows—maybe the pressure of prison will change both of them into diamonds. I hope you're shining today.

In the spirit,

Jane