Simon Wilder in the movie "With Honors" taught me one habbit when I was still young, that is, collecting stones from every place I visit. I didn't quite fathom his reason for doing such but for me, I did it to remind me of the memories forged during my stay in that place.
It really did not matter what kind of stone it was. When I find one with a peculiar cut, I keep it. Or if the color and shape intrigued me, I bring it home. When I became older I outgrew collecting them. I just simply lost interest.
Looking back, I remember that the stones I picked from streams where the waters are gushing more strongly were smoother compared to the rougher stones of the stiller and calmer bodies of water. Some had shapes and colors that were distinct to the place. Some were exceptional while others were just ordinary.
On a deeper note, stones are similar to people. We are different from one another. Each one of us is unique. We have our own distinguished cuts, shapes and sizes. Even twins are different from each other though they have the same parents. No one is exactly the same. And just like stones, the more we are thrown around, bruised, battered and sharpened by circumstances, experiences, by our surroundings, and by life itself, the more we become stronger, sure and confident of who we are. For these experiences are the ones that polish us. And the more we are polished, the more we shine. For “polish” is the result of difficulties.
I believe that rough stones also have beautiful qualities although they're just harder to see. It’s a pity though that there are people who cannot and will not accept this process of polishing. They indulge with pleasure in wallowing in the stiller waters of life and end up miserable and eventually blaming others for their situation.
No creature alive on this planet wants to be in a difficult situation. Not even I. But there will always be situations and circumstances that will test our mettle. Accepting the state you are in, I believe, is the first in the process of polish. Analyzing and understanding the problem is next. Having a good perspective of things will help you decide better on your next steps. Most of all, it will definitely help to pray and ask Someone greater than us for guidance to take control of the situation.
This is my take on Scarlet's article "My Stony Proposition" submitted to Unbound! October 2006.
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