Diamonds along the path

Perhaps you’ve read the timeless stories recounted by Russell H. Conwell, founder of Temple University, in his talk that became a best-selling book: Acres of Diamonds.

Conwell talks about the danger of just taking your present circumstances for granted and always longing for the pot of gold at the end of someone else’s rainbow. He argues convincingly that great opportunities are all around you…if you’ll just open your eyes to see them.

I was reminded of Conwell’s counsel when I read this AP story: “Teen finds 2.93-carat diamond along path” (Wed Jun 6, 6:41 PM ET- Murfreesboro, Arkansas)

Walking along a path taken by thousands of others at the Crater of Diamonds State Park, Nicole Ruhter noticed something everyone else had missed — a tea-colored, 2.93-carat diamond.

Ruhter, 13, of Butler, Mo., said she would name her find the "Pathfinder Diamond" after pulling what she described as a broken pyramid from the ground. Her parents, grandparents, brother and two sisters had already spent the day digging in two other fields before heading down the path just after 7 p.m. Tuesday.

"We were walking through the path and I just walked and saw this little shine," said Ruhter, who has just finished the seventh-grade. "We wrapped it up in a little dollar bill and took it back and showed them."

While the park does not do appraisals, Bill Henderson (assistant park superintendent) said experts appraised a 4-carat diamond found previously in the park between $15,000 to $60,000.

Before you jump in your car and head for Arkansas, remember Conwell’s advice and look for the diamond mine on your doorstep…the people that God has placed around you and the community to which you’ve been called. While they may not always be significant or impressive at first glance, our call/gift as leaders it the ability to imagine what God can do in and through these diamonds in the rough!

Here’s to finding diamonds…on the edge!