Life Lessons Taught by an Agate

My son, the writer and successful Montana fly fishing guide, is also an amateur petrologist, one who studies the character and origin of rocks. His lifelong passion for rocks, and currently river agate and agatized woods, is unparalleled, and has earned him the nickname – Agate Magnet. Jim and I received gorgeous tumbled crystalized calcite, agate, and agatized wood carefully crafted by James for Christmas. Mine is on an intricately knotted fish line so two rocks can dangle in my kitchen window. If I am lucky, on a sunny morning, I can glimpse an elusive rainbow in the calcite.

Agate is the most popular tumbling rock because of its color, interesting patterns (bands, eyes, moss, lace), and translucence, enhanced by an exceptionally bright polish. When James recently shared with me that his commercial rock tumbler imitates the action of a rock tumbling in a river for millions of years, I had to learn more. In The River Runs North – the Story of Montana Moss Agate by Tom Harmon, the author describes how agates are formed (excepted):

At the time of the dinosaur extinction about 65 million years ago, two-thirds of eastern Montana was covered by shallow inland seas. This catastrophic event occurred at the same time as the Rocky Mountains were formed and massive lava flows resulted. These volcanic flows lasted several million years and was the beginning of the formation of agate and agatized woods.

The book details the petrology and mineralogy (the mineral components that create rocks) of the agate formation which is all fascinating to me, and I cannot help thinking about the lessons we can learn from agate.

Perseverance, Grit, and the long approach

Perseverance is the ability to keep going, even when faced with challenges, setbacks, failures or unexpected obstacles. Grit is perseverance and passion for long-term goals, maintaining both effort and interest over years and years. Just like the agate, humans need to remember that life is a marathon, not a sprint, something a Kent School trustee told me in my first year of Headship. Tumbling in a river for 20 million years is unequaled perseverance and a good lesson in taking the long term approach to goals.

Age brings a beauty all its own

A 20 million year old agate, agatized wood, or crystal is truly beautiful to behold. Softened edges, glistening shine, clarity. After time in a rock tumbler, these characteristics are heightened. Humans need to respect the aging process much more than we do, and recognize there is beauty in wisdom and time well lived. Older age means having faced many of life’s challenges, and sharing the experiences can be beautiful and beneficial.

New is not necessarily better

The river agates are older than we can even imagine, formed through long periods of time. Their presence in riverbeds is grounding and comforting. Why do we surround ourselves with new material objects? New and disposable, man-made items? When something breaks, we replace it. Humans can learn from the longevity of the agates and their natural process of becoming. 

Nothing heals like tumbling in a river

In poetry, a river is sometimes portrayed as a symbol of perpetual change and of the constancy of time and life itself. Its healing powers are written about by Native Americans and naturists. Water soothes the soul and humans need to reflect at the water’s edge to sustain themselves. 

An agate tumbling lifelong in a riverbed is the luckiest of all.