The Folly of Judgment
for Rock Hounds
A good friend who knows you are a rock hound sponsors a trip to go crystal mining in Arkansas. You are so excited because you just know you are going to find the gem of all gems to add to your collection. So, you prepare for the mining expedition with a great deal of vibrancy and vitality – you have your water bottle, salt tablets, hat, and sun screen packed.
When you get to the mine, you see piles of red clay as far as the eye can see. The owner of the mine gives you a bucket and shovel and tells you that you can buy whatever crystals you find that will fit into the bucket for $25. Would you complain that you have to do a little work to find your gem? Would you give a hundred detailed instructions to the bucket and shovel on how to get the most advantage from your digging? Or, would you just get on with it?
As you dig through the mud, you find a few small crystal points among the mud and ordinary stones. Do you yell at the mud? Criticize the stones for not being the gem you envisioned, believing that will turn the stones into crystals? Or, do you get on with more digging and sifting?
You’ve been at the mine for a bit over an hour now, but you didn’t find your gem of gems yet. Do you judge yourself for not finding your gem at the beginning of your adventure? Maybe you’re not as good a miner as you could be. Do you feel like quitting because you no longer believe the gem is in the piles of mud? Or, are you grateful for finding the few small points, as they are a sure sign that other crystals are out there for you to find?
You eat your packed lunch and have a drink of water. You notice that your pile of crystal points is growing, but still no gem. Do you quit or continue? Do you think that’s a trick question and has a right answer or a wrong answer? Or, is this just a choice? What if you followed your inspiration?
Maybe that pile ten feet to the left contains your gem. Do you shift your sorting operation to that mound of dirt or stay where you are? Do you think that’s a trick question and has a right answer or a wrong answer? Or, is this just a choice? What if you just followed your inspiration?
It’s about an hour before dusk, and the mine is going to close soon. Are you satisfied with the crystals you’ve already found? After all, you haven’t even cleaned them up. Who knows if that gem of all gems isn’t already among your finds? Or, do you continue mining for another hour. Do you think that’s a trick question and has a right answer or a wrong answer? Or, is this just a choice? What if you just followed your inspiration?
What if your crystal mining adventure was about enjoying the day? What if this was the best experience you’ve ever had but you didn’t find your gem of gems? What if the treasure that you sought was really time spent doing something you really enjoy, digging in the mud with anticipation, being grateful for all the finds you made, knowing that a dear friend loved you enough to provide this experience for you?