Ok so I previously posted my reasonings of why I chose "Shape Yourself" to be part of the center of this blog. However, an amazing teacher, Kolette Butler, I had in Jr. High had previously given me this lettle anecdote. I just came across it the other day, read it and it is exactly what I was trying to say but she does it a million times better than I could ever so.....I will quote her word for word. It is a little long but well worth the read. Enjoy!!!
Life is a rock tumbler
by Kolette Butler
"When you start the journey of life, not when you're born, but when you truly start the journey, you are as common a rock as can be found. You're like all the other rocks on the ground near the sandbox. People ignore you; they kick you aside. You are of no value or consequence to them.
At the time, somehow, deep inside yourself, you find the opportunity and the strength to climb into the rock tumbler. In that tumbler you experience harder times than you ever imagined. Friends use you and leave you. Parents don't understand. And most tumbling of all, you don't understand. No one knows you. No one cares. It's hard. Yet, you stay in the tumbler, and you make mistakes, and you learn. You give and give and give until there's nothing left, and then you give even more.
Now, someone comes along and looks in that tumbler. He chooses you above all the other rocks. He has begun to see what's inside, what you're really made of. You didn't break up and crumble like those other rocks. Oh sure, you lost a chunk here and there. You've been scraped and worn, but only now can others see you, and most importantly, now you can see and understand your core.
At last, you realize that all those beatings in the tumbler were good for you and not only do you accept those experiences, but you are grateful for them. They made you a beautiful, valuable rock. However, somehow you don't feel finished. You climb back into the tumbler, but this one is more intense than you remember. There is so much refining to be done. College is hard and not what you expected. Standing up for what you believe usually means you're standing alone. Your job isn't what you had hoped. You've never felt so alone. The beatings continue and worsen and just when you've given all you have and think the pressure will surely crush you this time, once again the tumbler slows, the door opens and a caring, gentle hand takes you and polishes you.
After you are polished and thoroughly inspected, you are given one more refining opportunity. This time you are being shaped into that which best shows your beauty and value. It;s not the shape you thought you wanted. It hurts to have a chip taken out here and to be ground down there, but you are strong now and you trust the one who is shaping you, completely. This time the stone worker customizes this tumbling experience, and now you realize that those other tumbles were cake and ice cream.
Finally, the shaping is complete. A few more bufferings and you are ready, finished. He carefully picks you up and inspects your every facet. You are precious to that one who shaped you, you are his work, and now you are complete. He gently places you among other stones like yourself and you can't believe what you see. Diamonds, rubies, sapphires and you. How did you ever get this far, so many miles and years from that common rock on the playground, kicked aside and thought to be good for nothing? You did it! You passed, and now you rest in the company of your heroes, because you, like they, endured the pressure and heat and grinding of the rock tumbler.
Life is a rock tumbler."
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