FINDING THE GEM IN ONE ANOTHER

Gail Oliver Cambridge | November 2025

A gold miner will tell you that there are various stages in the process of getting to the polished product once the ore has been extracted, which includes crushing, grinding, separating, and heating. The extraction and melting phases are the longest and removal of impurities most important.

When we purchase or are gifted any jewelry, we certainly do not think about what went into the process of producing this fine ring, earring, necklace, or bracelet. We simply admire its beauty and value and enjoy wearing it.

The same can be said when we view others by their personality, either positively or negatively, not knowing what the person has gone through to present themselves in that particular way. By the same token, others do this to us as well.

Most of us have been in conflicts that left us reeling and unnerved. One may ask, “What caused this or what did I do to deserve it?” And the answer, “Nothing.” It simply may have resulted from an oversight, poor communication, or differing opinions. While a response can quickly clear up the situation, we might hold on to an unforgiving spirit.

This act of harboring anything that unfavorably impacts us creates a fountain of impurities within. Author Alexandra Vasiliu says, “Letting go is a journey that starts with self-awareness and ends with self-respect; a journey of healing, finding yourself, and reclaiming your strength.” We cannot let harmful feelings fester so must eliminate them.

While we face and rid ourselves of our own impure qualities, we can also help others to purge themselves of whatever may be tainting them. When we see family and friends doing wrong, we should call them out. We readily do this with our children because we know the importance of training and guiding them in their development of being great humans. So, we can be that person to gently inform, correct, and guide others on the right path. Some will listen and for those who do not, we must keep them in prayer.

Just as we take care to maintain that beautiful piece of jewelry, so must we stay the course and be in community with one another in our quest to be our best selves, nudging, uplifting, and giving praise. This is akin to the shaping of diamonds, which is done by rubbing two against each other. The diamond and gold processes are long and difficult, but the end game is getting to the jewel within. With some spit and polish, we too can allow the gem inside all of us to emerge and shine brightly!

Our faith in Christ is pivotal. Proverbs 27:17 (NIV) states, “As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.” The Apostle Peter tells us, “I know how great this makes you feel, even though you have to put up with every kind of aggravation in the meantime. Pure gold put in the fire comes out of it proved pure; genuine faith put through this suffering comes out proved genuine. When Jesus wraps this all up, it’s your faith, not your gold, that God will have on display as evidence of his victory.” 1 Peter 1: 6-7 (MSG)