During the last two months, I’ve had the great privilege of spending time with and speaking to more than 100 outstanding students in both Cape Town and Crete.  These students have had tremendous opportunities. Whether it was the thrills of Shark Cage Diving or Sailing the Greek Isles, or seeing the Big 5 up close on Safari to watching the sunset from a street in Santorini, or even working with less fortunate individuals from the slums of Africa to the streets of Athens, Greece.  At the end of the day, these students had some incredible “diamond experiences”

In 1985 Vance Havner wrote a book entitled “Playing Marbles with Diamonds”

The title of the book emanated from a story that he heard about a traveler who had gone to a region in Africa and witnessed an incredible sight. There was a large group of African boys in a township who were gathered on the dusty ground in a circle playing the very common game of marbles.

So get the picture here—a bunch of little African boys, gathered around a circle, playing marbles.

What made the game astounding to observe was that the children were not playing the game with glass marbles but instead they were playing the game with what turned out to be actual DIAMONDS.

Can you even begin to imagine?!? You have the world’s most precious gem, diamonds, being used in what is possibly the most elementary and common game that a child can play, MARBLES???

What if these young children realized what they had in their possession?  They had no idea the wealth they held in their playful little hands.

Just think for a minute—
what if they understood
the power of what they held?
How could that change their lives?

As we ended each program this summer, I told this story and challenged our students.  However, I think it is a message we should all take to heart.  Take a step back and think about the experiences you have had in your life, think about the opportunities you have been blessed with, think about the potential you hold in your hands… Don’t play marbles with diamonds!

I believe you Play Marbles with Diamonds when you do the following 3 things-

*You are playing marbles with diamonds when you think about what you can get more than what you can give.

*You play marbles with diamonds when your greed exceeds your gratitude.

* You play marbles with diamonds when you fail to turn your aspirations into achievements.

Today, pause just for a moment to think about how fortunate you are.  The story above changed my perspective and has been shared with many audiences around the world.  What story or illustration has been a game-changer in your life?

I’m Counting on You!