On the second floor of the Smithsonian Museum of Natural History, protected behind glass, are numerous gemstones and geological formations. Formed by a masterful hand, gas and solid molecules cluster in definite ways. They form crystals of all shapes and sizes, from the jagged to the bulbous, deep within the earth in miraculous diversity.
One exhibit case in particular shows crystals of all the colors of the rainbow. Are these the building blocks of New Jerusalem? They’re all beautiful.
Then, another room has the lights turned down. Under rotating spotlights, we now see cut gems that have been mounted on brooches, necklaces, crowns, and rings. Measured in carats, these are the storied gems of history, selected for their rarity, clarity and beauty.
Here in this room, each stone has a name. “The Hope Diamond.” “The Logan Sapphire.” Like a person, they are endowed with features, power, a name. Such named objects can never be anonymous again. Such beautiful gems are treasured, even loved, for their grace, purity and definition. As “Hope,” as “Logan,” such stones are rarely forgotten.
In the Lord’s eyes, too, we are such gemstones. Not just uncut and left in the dirt, but polished, contemplated, designed, and paired up in personal ways, such jewels are worn proudly on the body of the wearer — on the shoulder, on the collarbone, on the brow of the head. Such stones are decorated to show off their most striking strengths. They’re even loved — remembered by not just one generation or one people, but many generations across the history of the world. They’re known by name.
How precious we are to be named! How loved we are! We are the building materials found by that divine stream. Crystalline, formed in time, colored in this and that way, we are brilliant whenever the light shines through us. We are being built with others to make a holy city, a mutual abode, a divine marriage, an eternal rest.
Lord, how could you love us in this rich way? A precious stone, a human being, a wife, a son? Aren’t we weighing on Your heart and admired by You in this way? Formed by Your hands, don’t You love us the more we reflect your light? We are growing more and more transparent, filled with hope, colored by the atmosphere of Your presence, every day. We are Your transparent vessels treasured and loved by You, and we treasure and love You back!
— RC