Shine Bright Like a Diamond

           Diamonds shine brightest on the darkest tapestries. As much as we hate it, the same is true with human lives.

            I was recently reading from a biography on radio newscaster and personality, Paul Harvey. Years ago, Harvey’s son, Paul Junior, spent an extensive amount of time researching the story of a boy named Joachim. He was a Jew trapped in the World War II concentration camp of Bergen-Belson.

            As he neared his 13th birthday, Joachim appealed to a rabbi, also a prisoner in the same camp, to help him “celebrate” his bar mitzvah. The rabbi agreed and during the middle of the night, away from anyone who could hurt them, the rabbi gave Joachim his bar mitzvah.

            Afterward, the rabbi also gave Joachim a scroll of the Torah. He told the boy, “I am not going to survive this; I'll die here, and you're going to go on. Take this Torah scroll, and I want you to remind people who see it of what happened here.”

            Shortly thereafter, the Allied army liberated Joachim from the concentration camp. He went on to become an exceptional physicist and had the privilege of working on one of the space shuttle projects. He became acquainted with one of astronauts, and he related to him his story at Bergen–Belsen. He also gave the astronaut the Torah scroll.

            The astronaut was so honored, he decided to take the scroll with him on his mission on the space shuttle Columbia. Tragically, the astronaut, Israeli Air Force Col. Elan Ramon, was killed along with the six other astronauts on Saturday morning, February 1, 2003, over the forests of east Texas as they were descending to land.

            Space shuttles missions had become so routine, even American citizens typically paid them scant attention. Yet, because of this tragedy, the whole world was watching. Consequently, the Columbia tragedy drew the attention of the world to the Torah scroll, and to the story of Bergen—Belsen.

            Adversity in human lives provides the tapestry that allow the “diamonds” to shine brightest.

            Paul is the ultimate example of someone who got this. Consider his encouragement to the Corinthians, 9 But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. 10 For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong (II Cor. 12:9-10.)

Addie

Paul Harvey tells the story of a twelve year old boy named Addie, who was asked by his older sister to stay for a party that she was giving, to which some of her school friends were coming. Addie stayed, but he found himself bored with the games of the older kids.

Finally, one of the older boys casually mentioned to him that he had learned the manual of arms—an army drill which involves the twirling of a rifle with crisp precision. The only problem was they needed a gun. Then Addie remembered that his dad had a .22 rifle. Quickly, he ran to fetch it. After a demonstration by the "military expert", Addie decided he wanted to give it a try.

What followed remained locked in the mind of Addie until the day he died. The eyewitness accounts varied. Some said that after the older boy showed Addie the manual of arms, Addie tried to duplicate his actions. Others said that he was trying to put the rifle away, while one person swore that Addie "took the gun from the older boy...pointed it at one of the girls... and pulled the trigger."

However it occurred, the gun was loaded and in Addie's hands when it was fired. The resulting gunshot killed a young girl named Ruth Merwin.

In the years that followed, this incident was never mentioned by Addie. He went on to have an outstanding career in public service, serving as governor of his home state, and twice being nominated for the presidency of the United States. And there are those who say that had he run against anybody besides a certified world hero (Dwight Eisenhower), he would have won.

Interestingly enough, there are many historians who feel that he would have been a better president. At any rate, despite his success, Adlai Stevenson astounded his contemporaries by retaining a sense of humility in spite of being in a field known for ego. Many times when he received honors, Stevenson would receive them reluctantly, saying, "I should have preferred to hear those words uttered for a stronger, a wiser, and a better man than myself."

It strikes me as one looks at the career of Adlai Stevenson in light of this tragedy that a major reason he was so humble, and a major reason that he had such an outstanding sense of duty to his fellow man, was that he was responsible for the death of another human being. It may have been an accident, but it was HIS accident.

You almost get the feeling that at some point in his life, he sat down and said to himself, "Okay, I am responsible for Ruth's death. So what do I do? Do I kill myself, or do I just give up and die? No, I can't do that. That wouldn't help anyone. Instead, I am going to devote my life to public service..." Of course that is only speculation, but perhaps it is accurate speculation.

According to Paul, as Jesus' ambassador, as Jesus' representative, I have taken Jesus' place. I am now Jesus' body here on earth (as a member of His church, I am part of the “body of Christ”).

While I live, I am to continue His mission. The world can no longer see Jesus, they can only see me; therefore, I have the duty to live my life like He would have lived it. This may sound like a heavy responsibility, but after all, Jesus is my Lord, and I am His servant.