Diamond in a Lump of Coal

Though coal propelled the Industrial Revolution, which, in its turn, birthed the Information-Technology Age in which we seem to be thriving, it is a common commodity. It's coarse, dirty, flaky, ugly in appearance, and it does not have much of a symbolic or poetic meaning in and of itself.

Whereas diamond, on the other hand, has long been held in the human imagination as pure beauty, highly valued and valuable, hardy and rare. It even symbolizes the essence of something of superlative quality, like the unbeatable human spirit in the face of less than ideal situations in life; thus, the saying:"diamond in the rough".

Diamond is a rare commodity. Only those who have great means can own the brilliant lustre of a piece of pure carbon. The funny thing is, both a lump of coal and a diamond are related. They have the same parentage. They are carbon molecules of different density as a result of relative degrees of pressure and heat in their formation in the earth.

The following real life story illustrates well "life is not always what it seems to be". It's an uplifting story. It's a modern-day "My Fair Lady" and "Pretty Woman". It's a Pygmalion Theory coming true!

In reality television craze such as American Idol and Canadian Idol, the U.K. has their version called "Britain's Got Talents". It was in one of those appearances that this self-fulling prophecy took place.

Paul Potts, a mobile phone salesman from South Wales and an unknown (talent) took the stage. Paul stood in front of a large audience and three very hard-nosed judges in his "horrible looking suit" and a most nervous posture. He carried a nervous smile.

Simon, the head judge, and by far the most hard-nosed of the three, asked Paul what his occupation was. Paul answered that he was a mobile phone salesman.

Amanda, one of the judges asked Paul:"Paul, what are you here for today?" Paul nervously, and almost apologetically, replied:"To sing opera."

The judges looked at one another as if to say, "C'mon. Give us a break!"

What had appeared metamorphosed instantaneously into something totally unanticipated the moment Paul sang his first note of canta Opera. What followed was a miracle. The seemingly impossible happened... a charwoman became "My Fair Lady"; Paul Potts rose above to become an opera singer!

Paul's angelic voice brought everybody in the audience to their feet. The audience was wildly wowed (and so were the three judges), and it applauded unceasingly long after the last note was sung.

Amanda, the only lady judge, with tears running down her cheeks complimented Paul with this poetic device:"I think we've got a case of a little lump of coal here that's going to turn into a diamond."

Into a diamond, indeed, is Paul Potts turning. Not only did he win round after round of the talent contests, he has his first CD, and has made many appearances with big names like Sarah Brighthman and Andrea Bocelli.

What lessons have we learned from this true tale of transformation and transcendence?

1. Paul admitted that as he grew up, having a healthy self-confidence has been a difficulty for him. His metamorphosis is an inside-out and outside-in one where he is more confident, looks more confident, sings more confidently, and live more confidently. He rose above!

2. At an interview before his performance audition, he passionately admitted to the world: "My dream is to spend my life doing what I was born to do... to sing." Sang he did, and very well, too.

3. From the moment Paul Potts set foot on stage for the first time for the "Britain's Got Talents" show to now when he is warmly received with world-wide acclaim, Paul never exhibits one single hint of arrogance. Instead, Paul has etched in my mind a man of humility and meekness though he knew what he was capable of performing.

4. As a valued colleague of mine, Jennifer Blair, so beautifully reminded me that we work with young lives most of whom, unfortunately, are deemed by those who are most significant to them to be worthless, unlovable, commonplace, and troublesome. We, who are privileged to be entrusted with this sacred duty to care for these little ones, ought to see diamond in every child, everyday. Period!

5. Yes. Each one of us is created with gifts and talents. Let us patiently uncover them and humbly use them for the betterment of everybody with whom we come in contact in life's journey daily. Let us, as Paul emboldens us to do: "My dream is to spend my life doing what I was born to do." Whatsoever that may be.

Thanks, Paul, for your life-statement of encouragement to each one of us who has the need to transcend the commonplace and drudgery of life and become whom we are meant to be.

The attached video of Paul's performance is for you to enjoy. Have a Kleenex ready!

A Kernel of Wheat: Remembering a Gentle Giant of Faith and Scholarship

A giant has fallen asleep, but has left precious legacies of roots and wings to all whom he touched.

On July 5, 2008, in the company of his loved ones, Clifford H. C. Edwards passed away from a fast-spreading cancer at Riverview Health Centre. He was 84 years old.

Here was Dean Emeritus of the Faculty of Law, University of Manitoba, Queen’s Counsel, Chair of Law Reform Commission, member of the Order of Canada and Order of Manitoba, but, most distinguished of all, a “faithful servant” of the King.

Cliff was a giant of a man. He was my legal history professor in law school in 1972 and my conscience thereafter.

Cliff was a man of quiet faith and great moral fortitude. I remember attending his Wednesday noon-hour Bible study sessions with other law students in his office – the Dean’s office. Cliff made it all right to practice faith in a highly secular subculture.

Cliff was indeed, as praised by many, a fantastic teacher. His lectures, like his Sunday sermons, were clear, concise, to the point, and well illustrated with anecdotes.

Yes. It’s true that Cliff loved alliterations. He used this literary convention to sculpt memorable concepts in his audience.

On many occasions when I happened upon Cliff, he would kindly, with a smile, remind me that I should help my wife in taking our four young boys to church every Sunday, instead of letting her struggle with carrying two tiny ones and shepherding the two older ones to church. It was Cliff’s attempt to disciple me. But, he did it so gently and so … effectively, not right there and then, but, certainly years afterwards in helping to save my soul.

The last time I saw Cliff was at the Tuxedo Shopping Centre parking lot outside Safeway three months ago in March. We had a brief chat. He looked frail. Those were one of many opportunities I regret having missed in telling him how much he had impacted me and my life, as he had many others on his life’s pilgrimage.

“I tell you the truth, unless a kernel of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies, it produces many seeds.” John 12:24

Now, Cliff is with the Lord, and indeed, we can all hear the trumpet sounded on the other side as he had sown many seeds of salvation for those who cared to pay heed.

Thank you, Dean Edwards, as you were so affectionately and respectfully called, for caring about my God-precious soul.