What’s in the gold?

We always connote gold to being the first, the champion and the best in whatever human undertakings. In a competitive endeavor like sports, we always right away would want or know who’s in the lead. Leading in a game or sports means outperforming, outdoing others in terms of ability and dexterity. In schools for instance, it’s always the first honor who gets the most attention to as if the first honor is the barometer for the rest of the class. The other honor students and the rest of the students need to exert double or extra effort not to be so far away from the one who’s leading. And this is the reason why we also have a special place for our collection of gold medals.

But beyond the honor and special regard for achieving such is the hard work and dedication one has put into it. The sacrifices and struggles before achieving such glory are unimaginable. We oftentimes only see the glamour and perks when one has succeeded but that’s only a tip of the iceberg. The glitter of the gold is superficial beneath is the process of refining one’s personality and character. Like the constant pounding of the metal by the blacksmith, it does not take an hour, not a day nor a week but it’s an arduous task of refining, and so indeed regarding the end result a product a persistence and dedication. True enough, gold is the color of success, achievement and triumph. In our temporal life, we want to be the best. We want to outperform others. We want to be a template for others.

At the uppermost level, this is a color which is associated with higher ideals, wisdom, understanding and enlightenment. It inspires knowledge, spirituality and a deep understanding of the self and the soul. Such higher calling, purpose and regard requires one to transcend beyond the ordinary understanding of people. And so for one to have achieved the golden status means more patience, more understanding on the phenomena taking place in an environment of normalcy. In the Genesis, it points out to the presence of gold, “And a river went out of Eden to water the garden; and from thence it was parted, and became into four heads. The name of the first is Pishon: that is it which compasseth the whole land of Havilah, where there is gold; And the gold of that land is good.”

Gold’s rarity, in biblical times, gave it a monetary value which has made it useful in commercial transactions, as well as a measure of wealth and prominence. The color and luster of gold and its resistance to oxidation or tarnishing, makes it valuable for jewelry and ornamentation. Not only is gold an indicator of wealth, in the olden times, owning one is also compared to acquiring knowledge, wisdom and faith, which is far more valuable.

Not only unharmed when tried by fire but gold becomes refined and pure, indeed a powerful comparison between one’s good work on the foundation of our Creator and its qualities. It is valuable, not on the standpoint of its monetary value, but the value of sacrifice, persistence and understanding. Gold reminds us not to be boastful of our laurels but instead use them for a higher calling. [email protected]