“Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don’t try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.” James 1:2-7 The Message
Anyone who has ever flown on an airplane with any frequency has experienced, at one time or another, what the airlines call a “firm” landing. If you have ever flown Southwest Airlines, where flight crews are known to have “unique personalities,” you may have heard announcements such as these following a rather “firm” landing:
"Ladies and gentlemen, welcome to Amarillo. Please remain in your seats with your seat belts fastened while the captain taxis what's left of our airplane to the gate."
"Please take care when opening the overhead compartments because, after a landing like that, sure as h*** everything has shifted."
"We ask you to please remain seated while Captain Kangaroo bounces us to the terminal."
"Once the tire smoke has cleared and the warning bells are silenced, we'll open the door and you can pick your way through the wreckage to the terminal."
But my favorite is the question posed by a sweet little old lady to a first officer bidding passengers farewell at the aircraft door after an embarrassingly bumpy landing: "Sonny, mind if I ask you a question?"
"Why, no, ma'am."
"Did we land? Or were we shot down?"
Did you ever have days when you wonder whether you landed or were shot down? Of course, you have. We all have had those times when, as the old cowboy saying goes, we’ve “been rode hard and put up wet.”
The writer of James tells us (paraphrased above from The Message) that God is able and willing to transform our problems into spiritual growth. Our attitude is formed by what it takes to annoy us and by what it takes to bring us gratification. It is important that we separate the irresolvable problems in our lives from the everyday ones. If our problem is something that we can take care of, then we simply need to do just that, take care of it. If our problem is something that we can fix, then we need to simply fix it. If something is broken about the house, such as a toilet that constantly runs, a squeaky door, a dripping faucet, or maybe a mosquito is bothering you, simply do what you can to get rid of the problem. This scripture, though, concerns irresolvable problems, problems that are beyond our control. Such things as driving through heavy traffic; noise outside that keeps you awake at night; taking care of some ailing relative for months on end; when the boss, or fellow employees, are impossible to get along with. We may not be able to solve these problems, but we can, however, allow them to grow us spiritually.
A diamond, when it is first mined, “in the rough,” if you will, isn’t much to look at. What looks like an ugly lump of coal must be cut and polished until it reflects light. It’s ultimate value is determined by its “4 C’s,” clarity, color, cut and carat weight. Every facet must be carefully polished, and all flaws and imperfections removed. It’s a long hard road, with much difficult work. The process is tedious and painful (at least for the diamond).
Our lives are much like diamonds. Sometimes the problems we face are God’s way of revealing the flaws in our character. Just as there are no shortcuts to a perfect diamond, so the spiritual and emotional “cutting and polishing” in our lives is necessary for us to develop into the persons God created us to be.
In 1981, Billy Joe Shaver expressed these thoughts in a song entitled, “I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal.” Corny as it may seem, it contains some good advice for us today. Many other artist have covered his song, including Johnny Cash, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Patty Loveless, George Jones, Tex Ritter, and Tennessee Ernie Ford. My favorite is still John Anderson’s version, which you can listen to at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=x_0cT4rVQik . Here are the lyrics: Enjoy!
Hey, I'm just an old chunk of coal
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day
I'm gonna grow and glow 'til I'm so blue pure perfect
I'm gonna put a smile on everybody's face
I'm gonna kneel and pray every day
At least I should become vain along the way
I'm just an old chunk of coal now Lord
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day
I'm gonna learn the best way to walk
I'm gonna search and find a better way to talk
I'm gonna spit and polish my old rough edged self
'Til I get rid of every single flaw
I'm gonna be the world's best friend
I'm gonna go round shaking everybody's hand
Hey, I'm gonna be the cotton pickin' rage of the age
I'm gonna be a diamond some day
Now I'm just an old chunk of coal
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day
I'm gonna grow and glow 'til I'm so blue pure perfect
I'm gonna put a smile on everybody's face
I'm gonna kneel and pray every day
At least I should become vain along the way
Hey, I'm just an old chunk of coal now old
But I'm gonna be a diamond some day
Source: Musixmatch
Songwriters: Billy Shaver
I’m Just an Old Chunk of Coal (But I’m Gonna Be a Diamond Some Day) lyrics © Sony/atv Songs Llc, Bj Shaver Music
Prayer: Lord, thank you for taking me as I am and for loving me enough not to leave me that way. Amen.
Blessings,
Steve+
