Back at the end of February, when Patrick had his winter break from school, he did a science project; a kit for "growing" crystals. You may remember it from the website pictures. It took a little work, but we eventually achieved crystal-growing success; a little bit anyway. The crystals began to form, but it seemed that we weren't going to get the kind of result that was pictured on the box. The growing trays (bottom and lid) didn't fit together just right so as the liquid evaporated the crystals would form on the edge of the cup and then would fall onto the counter, rather than building solid crystalline structures down inside the cup. Here you can see how the crystals formed on the side of the cup. You can also see the pointy "spires" of the solid structure.
We tried a few things to slow the evaporation process, but didn't slow it enough to have the desired effect. In the process, however, we learned some interesting lessons.
Lesson #1: Reading, and following, the directions is critical if you hope to succeed (we did read the directions...carefully). The clearer the directions are (details are good) the better the outcome. The same is true of life. If you read the directions, and follow them well, the odds of a victory are almost guaranteed. The directions that came with this science kit were okay, but they lacked some detail that would have been helpful (like exactly how much of yellow powder to put in the growing cup..."about 1/3" is apparently too vague). Our manual for life (Bible) offers clear directions for building a life that is victorious beyond measure if we just take the time to read it.
Lesson #2: You can't rush the process. Rushing the process only weakens the structure. By allowing the liquid to evaporate quickly the crystals formed in a haphazard fashion. The result, although beautiful to look at, is incredibly brittle crystalline formations. Hair-like branches grow up like little trees, but if you dare touch them or breathe too heavily in their direction, they crumble. The crystals that formed slowly (at the beginning of the project when the liquid was deep and the crystals formed underneath the surface of the liquid) grew into unique crystalline spires; solid and strong. It is okay to handle them because they are seemingly formed with great intention resulting in unwavering structure. Only the most dramatic attack (such as slamming them on the ground) would cause them to break. So it is life. The character formed in haste, with little regard for intentionally forming its structure, is weak and easily broken or misshapen. While the character formed over time, with purpose and care, can weather many of the attacks that life brings.
I would like to think that the little crystals I am growing in the growing cup of life are being formed with great purpose and intention. I hope that they will become solid structures, firm and unwavering, steadfastly fixed on a solid foundation; able to withstand the mishandling, the rough treatment and the harshness that is bound to come. And through all of life they can stand strong and beautiful in a way those hastily formed crystals can only look up to.
