Thursday, September 29, 2011

How to Make a Sword

You have probably heard this before, but I will say it again: People die every day. It's a phrase that really gets worn out, and I eventually heard it so many times that I just didn't listen...until one day. I know a boy that had so many bad things going on in his life that he stopped seeing the good in life like the awesome family he had or the fact that he had the coolest best friend in the world. He tried to help so many people and eventually, those people either turned their back on him afterwards or he found out that their problem was fake. This boy couldn't believe the heartlessness of people and eventually, he learned to trust no one. After that and one too many heartbreaks, he decided that he was a mistake and that no one really wanted or needed him, and he tried to end his life. This boy was unsuccessful because he did not know how to tie a noose. Eventually, he gave up. Frustrated, confused and disappointed at himself, he decided to call his best friend and tell him about what he had done. His best friend made a point that this boy will remember forever. He told this boy how to make a sword.

When you make a sword, you take your shovel and dig deep down into the earth in places that people would forget about. One digs until he finds a dull, almost pointless rock. However, he doesn't see that rock that way. He sees it as a rock with potential. He puts it inside a furnace to burn away all the impurities and until it almost can't get any hotter. It turns into silver. This silver is still just a giant clump though, so it needs to be shaped. He shapes that clump into the shape of what a sword blade and then he lets it cool. Then, he beats it and beats it and beats it as it's cooling. Then, before it gets too cool, he burns it some more and then beats it and beats it and beats it again. He does this over and over again until it's an almost perfect shape. After that, he grinds this shape to make it sharp and able to stand up against anything that stands in it's way. Once finished, he has a beautiful, elegant sword that can defend against the evils that it faces.

You can probably draw the comparison to life yourself, but for those that had a hard time following, I will show you how this compares to life.

You are that rock. The man that finds you is God.
Just as the rock is found by the man in a place that is completely forgotton by everyone else, God sees you and your pain that everyone else just doesn't care about or understand. When you and everyone else doesn't see the potential that you have, God sees it because God doesn't make wastes of time.
This rock is literally beaten to death, burned mercilessly, and grinded against a grindstone over and over again, just like you can be beaten mercilessly on the inside or even the outside. This man did this to the rock seeing it's potential just as God allows this to be done to you seeing yours.
As this rock gets beat, burned and grinded, it becomes stronger and stronger until it becomes something that can't be brought down. Just like that, you are beaten and tested, but you become stronger and stronger as well, until you become the perfect weapon that can drive the evil in this world away.
I am a firm believer that good will eventually overcome evil, as I am a believer that suffering makes you stronger. Don't let the pressures and the flames take you down, but see them as a way of making you stronger. You are never alone, and I'm willing to talk to anyone going through a period of time where they feel like they can't go on.

5 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post, Tom! I was directed to your blog through Momentum. I'm really glad I did! Thank you for sharing yourself through this blog. I enjoyed reading it!

Carmen D.

Kat said...

Wow, just wow...thank you for shining that light down the path for others who are traveling a tough road. Seriously impressed...

Amy said...

What do you do when you can't see out? Look to the Sword-maker! Love the post, and your deep insight...will look forward to following your blog!

Shonya said...

Wow! What a great analogy!! I've heard about gold being heated to separate the impurities or dross, but this illustration just brings it home even more. Thank you for sharing that encouragement.

And I especially appreciate your servant's heart as you are opening yourself to giving to someone going through a rough time. Talking/sharing an analogy is one thing, putting encouragement into practice is the NEXT thing. Continue on in knowledge and growth!!

Addie Talley, Photographer said...

very, very cool analogy... loved this post - I related alot to it, thank you

About Me

My name is Tom. I am not perfect and have made my share of mistakes just like everyone else in this world. I have been a Christian my whole life and am the oldest of 8. The reason that I chose the title that I did is because I know it takes strength to face the world and keep your head held high. This strength usually goes unnoticed by the people you talk to or pass by. I made this blog so that people like me can understand that they're not alone and that other people struggle just like you do.