One afternoon last week I wanted to listen to some songs by Ladysmith Black Mambazo. And sprinkled in there came the classic by Paul Simon, ‘Diamonds on the Soles of Her Shoes’. Just about each morning since then that refrain plays in my head at some point. This morning I figured I’d better spend some time chewing on it, if for no other reason than to get a different song to play in my head.

When I started reading the lyrics I found myself going back to the beginning:

She’s a rich girl
She don’t try to hide it
Diamonds on the soles of her shoes

I didn’t want my interpretation of the lyrics to be strictly literal…strictly about money or boasting. Is there something in my own life that I have so much of that I waste it? Maybe it’s not about even having a lot of something (thinking time, money or talent). Maybe its just about wasting something God-given.

Maybe it’s about me taking some time today to pray about areas of my life where I may not be a good steward. Areas where I may not be bearing the fruit God may have in mind.

We have different gifts, according to the grace given us. If a man’s gift is prophesying, let him use it in proportion to his faith. If it is serving, let him serve; if it is teaching, let him teach; if it is encouraging, let him encourage; if it is contributing to the needs of others, let him give generously; if it is leadership, let him govern diligently; if it is showing mercy, let him do it cheerfully.
– Romans 12:5-8)

I found myself also reading the Beatitudes as part of my reflection this morning, and in particular v6:
“Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.”
And then, in that mysterious way God works, one of the footnotes for that verse took me to Isaiah 60:21 –
“Then all your people will be righteous and they will possess the land forever. They are the shoot I have planted, the work of my hands, for the display of my splendor.”

No diamonds on the soles, let us instead display the splendor of God in all that we do, such that His glory be radiant.