Argyle.
It’s the first thing that caught my attention this morning when I sat down. The man sitting next to me has apple green argyle socks on that show (brilliantly!) when he sits down.
What do I think of when I think of argyle? Sweaters and socks. Soft things. And diamonds. Strong things. Soft Diamonds. A strange oxymoron.
I’ve blogged about it before. The incredible things that have to happen for a diamond to form. Formed in the depths of the earth (90 miles below the surface), the darkness, the extreme heat (2000 degrees). So strange that something of such beauty comes from a process so awful.
The result is something strong and unbreakable. The term is “adamas”. Unconquerable. All of that pressure and heat and darkness gives something of great strength and value.
It easily reminds me of the words in James 1:2-4 – “Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.”
It’s the tough stuff that makes us into diamonds – strong and beautiful. It’s the heat and pressure of circumstances that refines our character and develops things in us that would not be able to happen at “surface level”.
But in our development of strength and beauty, we should not mistake that strength for hardness. We need to be like this man’s argyle diamonds. Soft, pliable and useful. A diamond that offers comfort with its strength and purpose with its beauty.
We need to be SOFT DIAMONDS. Diamonds that take the things we’ve learned, the trials we’ve endured and the heat we’ve experienced to help others who may be having their own “diamond in the rough” experiences.
Like socks and sweaters…
Ephesians 4:2 – Always be humble and gentle. Be patient with each other, making allowance for each other’s faults because of your love.
1 Thess. 5:14 – Brothers and sisters, we urge you to warn those who are lazy. Encourage those who are timid. Take tender care of those who are weak. Be patient with everyone.
