Golden Quartz

 I am filled with and healed by God's golden glory and light.

     Golden quartz, also called golden healer quartz, sunburst quartz, ferruginous quartz, fire quartz, and hematoid quartz (referring to the inclusions of hematite which give it its sunny yellow or orange color), is a beautiful semiprecious stone which is quite common yet spectacular nonetheless. Its different nicknames create a sense of light, citrus, joy and peace. Perhaps the crystal which fades from white to yellow to orange is the colors of the sun as it just breaches the horizon; maybe the glistening surface of a rough orange stone is the bright, luscious flesh of a tangerine, the juice within layering over itself to create many shades of golden orange. You might even imagine that a pale, glittering gold stone hold the light of heaven itself.

     It's not hard to convince someone that we live in a dark world. There is darkness in war, in death, in loss, and in heartache, and though we don't like to face it, there is a hidden darkness in each and every one of our hearts. This is not to say that everyone is a horrible person, but rather, this: being born into this life on earth, we are born into temptation, and without holy guidance we will all inevitably fail to remain light. Whether it be hate, jealousy, apathy, sexual indulgence, addiction, or any other sin, we all have darkness within us as well as without that we can choose to either fight or be consumed by. With these shadows in our heart, we know that no matter how much we stand against them, our hearts and emotions cannot be a reliable source of guidance.

     Yahweh, the one and only God which Christians follow, is like a golden star within His people, guiding us to show us the light in the world and helping us to walk in Holy light. Psalm 18:28 says, "For it is you who light my lamp; the Lord my God lightens my darkness." It continues on in verses 31 through 33, "For who is God, but the Lord? And who is a rock, except our God? - The God who equipped me with strength and made my way blameless. He made my feet like the feet of a deer and set me secure on the heights." Here the Lord tells us that He purifies and releases us not only from the darkness of our self-destructive sin, but also the darkness around us, shining a light on our path so that we can walk with sure footing like a deer dashing up a cliff.

      With this light then, we can be released of all that weighs us down as we live in Christ's name, living as children of light and vessels of holiness in every day of our lives. We don't need to think about the darkness of the world anymore, only the light that the Lord brings, and how best we can share it with others who are hurting. 

    "Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God. Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted."

Hebrews 12:1-3