My name is Crystal. Once upon a time there was a conversation in which it was impressed upon me that we don’t get to choose our own name, but that our name is important and we could either choose to live up to our great name or try to be the antithesis of some horrible name. I have thought about that for years and been a little frustrated because my name doesn’t really mean anything. It’s a pretty, transparent gemstone.
A couple years ago my brother Josh gave me crystal sun catchers for my birthday and hung them in my living room windows. Whenever those pretty, clear shapes had sunlight shining through them our entire living room was transformed into a place of magic and wonder. The children and I would lay together and admire the sparkly walls or we would go and dance in the sparkly light. I was so delighted and I remember thinking “this is what it means to be a crystal.” I’m not the light, but I’m a vessel that light can shine through and brighten up its surroundings. Nothing changes in the room and yet it’s more delightful. I can take this analogy so so far— to the point where you might think I’m a little unhinged and drawing far too much meaning from some crystals in a window. I’ll try not to be too poetic.
A few things I think I’m learning about being a crystal are: It’s got to be clean. It needs to be put in a place of prominence where light shines through it. The real magic is experienced, not by looking at the crystal, but by admiring where it’s casting colorful light.
So for me, that looks like keeping myself cleaned up and in God’s light with regular prayer, confession, and the holy Eucharist and then focusing on all the wonderful things in my life like the people I love, the beautiful outdoors, the cozy indoors, and all the little good things that make life a little more magical. I find that even when our circumstances are very precarious or uncertain; I can find a great deal of joy, peace and even delight by focusing on God and letting him focus my attention on the little moments of magic all around me.