Time in the Crucible

While in college, I earned a minor in chemistry. One of my favorite instruments to work with was a crucible. Essentially, crucibles are used to heat things to extreme temperatures to discover aspects of the compound being observed. In the case of raw ores, the heat begins to break down the structure of the sample and helps separate the true metal from any impurities that have clustered around it. When the proper temperatures are reached, it is possible to skim off the unwanted material and be left with the pure element.

I don’t know about you, but lately it seems that we have all been in the crucible of Covid-19. Quarantine has certainly increased the heat in multiple situations and many relationships. The stress and strain of all the uncertainty, the losses, and the changes in our lives have revealed varying aspects of our inner qualities. Many of us have felt like we are breaking or melting down.

The lesson of the crucible is that what feels like a destructive process is actually a path to refinement. It is critical oftentimes for us to go through the “fire” to reveal the non-essential material that is in the way of us being our true selves. Crises, as hard as they may be, are substantial ways of helping us to see what we may need to remove from our lives so that we can move toward wholeness and balance.

The questions arise, do we want to? Are we willing to take a hard look at the things in our lives that are hindering us from living to our full potential? Much like gold and silver ore, within each of us is something precious and valuable. Being in the crucible can be a traumatic experience, but the intense process can help us become the beautiful and valuable people we are meant to be. Through this lens, we can view this difficult and trying time as an opportunity for meaningful personal growth and discovery.