Is it a pencil or a masterpiece in the making?

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This story was sent to me by a friend.  It came with a number of pictures that were amazing.  But it was the parable that resonated.  There was no credit given to the artist or the author in the e-mail and my searches have only found others that shared it.  But to the artist and author I pay homage – even if you remain anonymous because this is a great life lesson.  Take from this what you are meant to hear:

A pencil maker told the pencil five important lessons just before placing it in the box:

1)  Everything you do will always leave a mark.

2)  You can always correct the mistakes you make.

3)  What is important is what is inside of you.

4)  You will experience painful sharpenings, but they will make you better.

5)  To be the best pencil, you must allow yourself to be guided.

My thoughts on this…

The parable can be that we are the pencil or it can be that we might be the hand that holds another.  Either way, the truths here remain.

• Everything we do is the cause for an effect.  For ourselves and for others.  Every thought, word and action leaves a mark.
• There is no mistake that cannot be corrected.  It cannot always be reversed or removed, but it can be corrected.  And what might appear at first to be a mistake, can also be the pivot point for a new image in the hand of the master.
• Our value comes from inside of us.  And we all have value.  We all matter.
• Throughout life, our value may be covered by protective shells that need to be whittled away so that our inner glory can shine.  Those sharpening can be painful but they are mean to reveal our purpose and allow us to grow.
• On our own, we will never achieve our best.  We need to allow ourselves to be guided and to also be willing to guide.

Just a pencil?  No indeed.  Any more than we are just a person.  We are both a masterpiece – now and in the making!