True Colors

A bit of chemistry trivia.

Historical records tells us that chemist Charles Glover Barkla have discovered a very unique property of each chemicals that when exposed to heat in their pure matter form, a certain spectrum or barcode of colors for each type of chemical is visible. This was the birth of chemical fingerprinting or more widely known nowadays as chemical spectrometry.

This spectrometry phenomena is the reason why Gil Grissom and his team of sleuths of the famous TV series CSI (Crime Scene Investigation) has had easy leads and reliable tests and conclusions to help them solve crimes. Their DNA and Trace laboratories are the busiest sections of their district office. Recent laboratory equipment upgrades now even include measuring the exact quantity of each chemical on a part per million accuracy.

But it is not that really an easy process.

A material or a compound has to be mechanically separated by cutting, grinding, drilling until a desired homogenous quantity unit is achieved. Next, the separation process which will involve a lot of acids, distillations or centrifuging are taken to separate other materials. Final stage is the controlled heating, isolation and interpretation of spectrum display of the target element takes place.

No, this is not a plugging for the on-going CSI 7th season (though I have to admit I am a big fan) nor a marketing ad for those Gas Chromatography – Mass Spectrometry test equipments.

Looking at a different perspective, each one of us is like a chemical element that undergoes cuttings, grindings, drillings, isolations, exposure to acids at any given day.

Do you have a hard-to-please boss? How about difficult everyday persons, colleagues or friends or family members? Are you financially in neck-high debt? Are you seriously ill? Dealing with a one-way marriage or relationship?

These or one of these things will expose and see for ourselves how we handle adversity. They help us reflect on our inner being, the “secret” identity that we may be able to hide in the absence of trials in our lives.

These or one of these things can show us our own true color.

Do you change your working methods or abhor the presence of your boss? Do you learn to accept and respect other people’s diversity or be indifferent by simply avoiding them? Do you persevere in saving and cost-cutting to pay your debts or borrow more? Do you face up your illness with humility and joy or wallow in self-pity? Do you try your best to make your marriage or relationship work or give up and accept separation as the only solution?

Have we ever asked ourselves this question - what is my true color?

A very good friend of mine, a father of 3, had suffered from a serious stroke 2 years ago at a young age of 35. For 2 years now he still can not move his left hand and walk with some difficulty. His business is floundering without any prospect of getting employed. You might wonder what is he up to these days. Day in and day out, he scours internet and newspaper ads looking and thinking of other business possibilities to try. He enjoys playing with his children and helping them in their studies. He continues to hold on to God’s promise of better days ahead of their family.

My cousin, who is still recovering from cancer, has just finished her 6th monthly chemo session and is now undergoing daily radiation therapies. Easy for her to call it quits and stay home. But no, as soon as the doctor gave her the go signal to work last month, she was up and back to her work. She is not going to give her cancer the chance to diminish her normal life. She will not allow the multitude of prayers from family and friends become a wishful thinking for her recovery. She is fighting and gets her strength from our God.

Dear friends, facing the problems by ourselves alone, our life will be left with nothing but darkness and gray sky.
With God inside our hearts, we will exude bright colors like a rainbow.

This is the true color that God painted our life to be.