Kyoshi's Topics
Acres
of Diamonds
Dr.
Russell H. Conwell founded Temple University in 1884 by
traveling around the country raising money by giving over
6000 lectures. In each of those lectures he told a true
story entitled “ Acres of Diamonds”.
The
story was an account of an African farmer who had heard
tales about other farmers who had made millions by discovering
diamond mines. These tales so excited the farmer that he
could hardly wait to sell his farm and go prospecting for
diamonds himself. So he sold the farm and spent the rest
of his life wandering the African continent, searching unsuccessfully
for the gleaming gems that brought such high prices on the
markets of the world. Finally, the story goes, worn-out
and in a fit of despair, he threw himself into a river and
drowned.
Meanwhile,
back on the farm he had sold, the man that had bought it
happened to be crossing the small stream on the property.
Suddenly, there was a bright flash of blue and red light
from the bottom of the stream. He bent down and picked up
the stone and later placed it on his fireplace.
Several
weeks later, a visitor to his home picked up the stone and
almost passed out. He asked the farmer if he knew what he
had found. When the farmer said no, that he thought it was
probably a piece of crystal, the visitor told him that he
had found one of the largest diamonds ever discovered.
Needless
to say, the farm that the first farmer had sold so he could
go look for diamonds, turned out to become one of the most
productive diamond mines on the entire continent. The first
farmer had owned free and clear, acres of diamonds, but
had sold it for little of nothing in order to go look for
them elsewhere.
The
moral of the story is clear – had the farmer taken the time
to study and prepare himself – to know what diamonds look
like in their rough state – and since he already owned a
piece of property – to thoroughly explore that property
before looking elsewhere, all his wildest dreams would have
come true.
What
makes this story important is each of us, at this very moment,
is standing within our own acres of diamonds. If we only
had the wisdom and patience to intelligently and effectively
explore the work we are currently engaged in, to explore
ourselves, then we would probably find all the riches we
seek, whether they are financial, intangible or both. Instead
of running off to greener pastures, we should explore how
to make our own pastures greener.
J.B.
Mathews wrote: “ Unless a person has trained himself for
his chance, the chance will only make him ridiculous. A
great occasion is worth to a man exactly what his preparation
enables him to make of it.” It takes curious imagination
to see diamonds in their rough state as cut and polished
gemstones, or “problems” that you encounter as opportunities
for growth. Your mind is your most powerful resource. By
exploring all the possibilities and striving for black belt
excellence, you will soon begin to see the diamonds that
lay at your feet.
