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| Pearl of Lao Tzu (aka Pearl of Allah) |
Though it is not considered precious by gemologists (since it came from a large clam, thus having no iridescence), the story behind it makes it quite precious:
The pearl came from the Philippines. Wilburn Cobb, an American who brought the pearl from the Philippines in 1939 and owned it until his death in 1979, published an account of how he came to own it in Natural History Magazine. According to Cobb, he wanted to buy it from a Philippine tribal chief when he first heard of it in 1934, but the chief did not want to sell. However, in 1936 Cobb saved the life of the chief’s son, who was stricken with malaria, and was given the pearl as a token of gratitude.
-source: wikipedia
In the US, the pearl was exhibited at the Ripley's Believe It or Not Museum, and was valued at $3.5million. Wow! In 2007, its value was estimated to be $93million! Double wow!
Such is the value of pearls, that it is but fitting to liken the Lord's kingdom to a precious pearl (Remember the parable of the hidden treasure and the pearl of great value? Look up Matthew 13: 44-46.)
The next trivia question then, could be: how are pearls formed? When an irritation, say a grain of sand or a live parasite, gets lodged inside an oyster, the oyster immediately creates a defense mechanism in order to arrest the irritation. It covers the irritant in a sac, and then the mantle of the shell produces layers and layers of calcium deposit around the irritant. Since the inside of a mollusk shell is iridescent, meaning, the color of the surface changes when viewed from different angles, such iridescence transfers on to the pearl surface, creating a beautiful color pattern.
Now, why am I talking about pearls? My mouth spurts forth pearls and anything pearly because this year is a year of pearls for my prayer community. We are celebrating our Pearl Anniversary, we are at the tail-end of a Pearl Book project, and I am on my way to producing a pearl myself.
Why? Because at this point in my life, I am experiencing irritants. I have sand and live parasites lodged in my shell. And numerous as they are, I am trying my best to arrest each one with a sac and coat them with iridescent calcium deposits.
However, I do not feel I am succeeding. Each day, there seems to be a new one, waiting to shoot itself into my shell and poke me. My only saving grace is the knowledge that whatever irritants may come, they couldn't kill me. Because they're just that--irritants.
However, I don't see this ending just yet. There are more to come. I want to say, "Bring it!" real bad, but I guess not now. I'll just let these pearls stew for a while. Who knows, the biggest pearl could be taking shape. I just wish it would be as precious as its size would command. And that those around me will value it as much.
“Do not give what is holy to dogs, and do not throw your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces.” - Matthew 7:6
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