Maybe you have already heard the news!
Yes, its true, the world's largest gem-quality diamond in over a century, is now on a world tour before its auction in London on June 29.
It was dug out of the dirt - the dust of the Kalahari Desert - in Botswana.
It is due to fetch a figure well over $70million and depending on what the buyer decides to do with it, it could provide the worlds largest cut diamond ever.
There is only one other diamond that was bigger in its rough state - the Cullinan (from the Cullinan mine about 4 hrs drive south of us in South Africa) - and it was found in 1905.
This latest diamond discovery was made in central Botswana in November last year and is about the size of a tennis ball. It has been declared more than rare - it is unique and of exceptional transparency and quality.
Following a nation-wide competition here in Botswana, the Diamond was named the 'Lesedi la Rona'….meaning 'Our light' . The competition winner said he chose the name because "the diamond is the pride, light and hope of Batswana. Diamonds are the main contributor to the economy and are a big part of the heritage of Botswana". And it is particularly interesting and significant that this diamond was discovered in Botswana's special 50th Anniversary Year since Independance.
Diamonds in the Dust
'Diamonds in the Dust' was the name of a devotional book written by Joni Eareckson Tada many years ago. It is about finding the gems amidst everyday life and its trials.
'Finding Diamonds in the Dust' is a term we have often used to describe what God has called us to in Botswana.
Botswana is mostly desert - it is a VERY dusty place - and yet it is the world's largest producer of gem-quality diamonds. Buried amidst the dust are the world's most precious stones.
Buried in the dust was this latest diamond. Though it is seen as bringing great honour to Botswana and is seen as the pride, light and hope of Batswana (the people of Botswana), and is set to be famous and to make Botswana famous in a new way, it cannot bring the most important light and honour to the people of the country where it was discovered.
As we think about life here, true spiritual Life, sometimes it can feel like a desert…..and yet what God can see and we can't, is that under the dust exterior, there are gems - souls to be 'found' - identified, extracted from sin's hold, souls who God wants to shape and hone and polish so that his light can be clearly and sharply reflected in all its beauty to a watching world.
Jesus is the true "Lesedi" - He is the Light that people in this world need. He is the Light that the Batswana need. It is only through Him that they can gain true honour and hope - honour and hope not only in the eyes of this world and for this life, but in God's eyes and beyond this life.
Pray that Batswana, the true diamonds of Botswana, will come to know Jesus the true 'Lesedi', so as to know true honour and hope for eternity.
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