Tuesday 15 February 2011

Pens and Pencils


 Well yesterday I was back running first time since my disagreement with the car. Today I have my first out with the young lad. It had not nearly dawned on my that this is a considerable challenge, a man of my age and a young man who even when you multiply his age by three he would still be younger than me.

But a bigger challenge awaits! Yesterday I purchased the white paint for my winter abstract. While buying the paint a paint brush shouted out at me that it wanted purchased also. So I have a new baby to nurture into my ways of working. Soon we will be close friends.

This reminds me of the story of the pencil maker and his pencils.

The Pencil Maker took the pencil aside, just before putting him into the box. 

"There are 5 things you need to know," he told the pencil, "Before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be."



"One: You will be able to do many great things, but only if you allow yourself to be held in someone's hand."



"Two: You will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, but you'll need it to become a better pencil."


"Three: You will be able to correct any mistakes you might make."



"Four: The most important part of you will always be what's inside."



"And Five: On every surface you are used on, you must leave your mark. No matter what the condition, you must continue to write."



The pencil understood and promised to remember, and went into the box with purpose in its heart. 




Now replacing the place of the pencil with ourselves. 

We must always remember the same things, never forget, and we will become the best persons we can be. 



One: We will be able to do many great things, but only if we allow ourselves to be held in some guiding hand. And allow other human beings to access us for the many gifts we  possess.



Two: We will experience a painful sharpening from time to time, by going through various problems in life, but we need it to become a stronger person. 



Three: We will be able to correct any mistakes we might make. 



Four: The most important part of us will always be what's on the inside.



And Five: On every surface we walk through, you must leave our mark. No matter what the situation, we must continue to leave good marks.

Let me end by singling this down to you.



Allow this parable on the pencil to encourage you to know that you are a special person and only you can fulfill the purpose to which you were born to accomplish.

Never allow yourself to get discouraged and think that your life is insignificant and cannot make a change.
 

Have a marvelous day. I am off to get ready for the first challenge of my day. Are you ready young man?

This blog is linked to my other.  Aonoch Eagach Ridge

3 comments:

  1. What an uplifting post, Ralph. Thank you, friend.

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  2. Ralph, this is an amazing story, to be remembered for life. Thanks for sharing.

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  3. Thanks Ralph. Your parable reminds me of the ones my teacher told, like the caterpillar who couldn't get anything done because he spent the day putting all those shoes on his thousand feet, and by the time he was ready to do something it was time to get ready for bed.

    Wm

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