“Again, the kingdom of heaven is like a merchant in search of fine pearls; on finding one pearl of great value, he went and sold all that he had and bought it.” (Matthew 13:45–46)
An oyster spends almost its entire life fixed to a single spot. It opens its shell only to filter food from the water.
For some, oysters are a gourmet delicacy.
But their most extraordinary claim to fame is their ability to produce an exquisite gem. Yet that gem has an unlikely origin.
A pearl begins its life as a parasite, an irritant. It starts when a microscopic parasite drills through the oyster’s shell and settles inside.
To protect itself, the oyster covers the parasite with its mantle. It then secretes layer upon layer of calcium carbonate, known as “nacre”, around the intruder.
Over time, this layering forms a pearl.
That which irritates you most, if you protect it, may become for you the pearl of great price.
Manihiki is a remote coral atoll in the northern Cook Islands, famously known as the “Island of Pearls”. Here, the oysters produce black pearls, formed the same way as any other, through the same irritation.
So, if the irritant in your life turns you black, have no concern, have no fear. You are just as precious, and just as sought after.