1 Peter 2:4-9 (NRSV)
Come to him, a living stone, though rejected by mortals yet chosen and precious in God's sight, and like living stones, let yourselves be built into a spiritual house, to be a holy priesthood, to offer spiritual sacrifices acceptable to God through Jesus Christ. ... [9] But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, God's own people, in order that you may proclaim the mighty acts of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.

Have you seen any surly looking boulders wandering around loose in your neighborhood lately? What an odd image – a living stone.

Of course it is easy to jump from that metaphor to Christ being the rock and cornerstone of my faith. He was chosen and precious in God's sight, was rejected 2,000 years ago, and is my living foundation today. Christ is my living foundation and the foundation for my living. He is what I live for and for whom I live my life.

Where else can we go with this verse? Who is writing this? Peter. His name means "rock". Hmmmm. An actual example of a living rock.

I think I have spent most of my life being a spiritual brick. Solid, but not really going anywhere. There are experiences in my past which long since turned my faith in Christ into unshakable conviction. But that was not enough. God is calling me to be more than just a rock in my faith. He is calling me to become a living rock. He is calling me to get up off my duff and get to work. He is calling me to become a stone He can actually use to build on. I am just starting to understand what that is all about.

A finely cut diamond has no light of its own but reflects the light it receives in ways that dazzle the eye and warm the hardest of hearts. But when a diamond is in the rough, it is just a stone. I may have been a rock-solid spiritual stone, but I was not reflecting very much light.

As I dream of what could be, I picture Jesus chipping away at my excess crud, cutting and polishing my facets. I see Him holding me up to His light and admiring the emerging sparkle, the heart of flame, the emerging beams of the Holy Spirit. I see myself accepting and reflecting His light in ways which are more pleasing to Him and to others. I am becoming alive and active in my faith. I am entering the holy priesthood. A royal priesthood that we are all called to.

But, alas, that is just a dream. Back here in reality I know I have just started to pursue that dream. And am finding great joy in it.