Diamonds in the back yard

Relationship Evangelism

There is an old story told about a man by the name of Ali Facid. He had a

small farm and a family. One day, the story goes, a Buddhist priest came by

and said to Ali Facid: You know, there are valuable stones called diamonds,

and if you get one of these you could be a wealthy man." Ali Facid went to

bed that night, but the words of the old priest haunted him. He was so

obsessed that he felt that he must find him one of these diamonds so that he

could become a ruler. He sold his farm, put his family out to neighbors and

went out to find his acres of diamonds. Months passed. He was broken in body

and spirit. His funds were gone. And at the Bay of Barcelona, he threw

himself into the water, never to walk this earth again.

Meanwhile, the man who bought his farm bent over one day and picked up a

little stone. He laid on the mantle that night not knowing what it was. A

few days later the old Buddhist priest cam by and saw it and exclaimed: Ali

Facid must be back from his search. No, came the response. Then where did

that diamond come from? The farmer replied: I was out plowing in the garden

and found it there. And friends, did you know that from that very garden,

for this is not a legend but a true story, came the jewels and diamonds that

today adorn the crown heads of Europe and Russia. In Ali Facid's own back

yard there were acres of diamonds and he knew it not.