Show, Don’t Tell: A Story of Faith and Creation
"Show, don't tell" is a narrative technique used in various forms of writing to allow the reader to experience the story through actions, dialogue, subtext, thoughts, senses, and emotions, rather than through direct exposition, summarization, or description. This concept is often attributed to Russian playwright Anton Chekhov, who is reputed to have said, “Don't tell me the moon is shining; show me the glint of light on broken glass.” In a letter to his brother, however, Chekhov actually wrote: “In descriptions of nature, one must seize on small details, grouping them so that when the reader closes his eyes, he gets a picture.”
Anton Chekhov
in 1901
Source
Library of Congress
I have always remembered this technique because I once dreamed of becoming a fiction writer. Every Sunday, before and during the COVID era, I would write my stories—especially during lockdown, when I couldn’t go anywhere. I even completed one titled "The Boy Watching Over the Sea," along with many others. The story follows Phillips, a boy struggling with the path his mother has chosen for him. He finds a teacher who completely changes his life, opening the door to his dreams.
Back then, my mind was still lost in a beautiful world—perhaps a "dream realm." I had little knowledge about life and assumed fulfilling my dream would be easy. But setbacks hit me hard during COVID. I was like a cat playing with thread balls—chasing, unraveling, and eventually losing my way. When writing brought me no income, I abandoned my dream.
It took me a long time to overcome life's hardships, but everything changed when I met a good friend—a writer living in Bangkok. We connected through a Facebook writing group, and when we finally met in person, he introduced me to Christ, the Holy Bible, and his church.
At first, I shook my head, saying, “Religion is a man-made belief, created to collect donations for personal wealth.” But everything changed the moment I stepped into God’s kingdom. As I began reading the Holy Bible, I encountered teachings that resonated deeply within me—like the parable of The Wise and Foolish Builders (Matthew 7:24-27):
24 “Therefore, everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”
These words broke down the walls I had built in my mind. They were truth itself—truth about our nature, created by God.
The Birth of My First Jewelry Design
This first encounter with faith brought forth my first jewelry design. It was the very first piece I ever created. Inspired by Christ’s sacrifice, faith, and divine light, I envisioned:
Red Spinel to represent the blood of Christ
A star to symbolize faith
Infinity yellow light to represent the Holy Light
The piece spoke of my new journey—a journey of true faith.
Through a computer-aided design (CAD) process, the cross was digitally formed before being 3D-printed and cast in 14K gold. A skilled jeweler then arranged and set the spinel and yellow diamonds before the final stages of polishing and plating, which gave it its radiant glow.
The moment I saw the completed piece, it spoke to me—without words—of the faith I had embraced. It was remarkable that, upon seeing it, people would say, “Ah, you are Christian.”
This experience proved something to me: Jewelry can be a powerful way to "show, don’t tell."
At Pravda Jewels, we can help you tell your story—not through words, but through the artistry of jewelry. Let us help bring your personal "show, don’t tell" narrative to life.
