Iron Sharpens Iron

The past couple of weeks have brought much change to my surroundings. Leaves are dropping from the trees, I saw the first hawk of the season, the temperature has flip-flopped and rain, glorious rain, has fallen upon the dry-dry land. 

Rain is a blessing and a curse in my world. “Gotta take the bad with the good,” I say. Does that make me a pessimist since I don’t say it the other way around? 

Will I ever stop being amazed at what the rain can bring up from the ground around me? I’ve lost count of the horseshoes I’ve found; nails, bar, wire...I’ve tossed most of it into a bucket for someone to use. A few of the treasures I’ve used in my home; a chain and gear for instance, that my husband used to make a chandelier for our foyer. 

What will become of the overflowing bucket of rusted metal in the barn? 

I can imagine some of it being used to make a knife. A useful tool from the useless refuse.

Once a help to a plow mule, or a part of a chisel to break the ground for planting, these long forgotten tools can be useful again. 

The process isn’t easy. The pieces must be sorted, cleaned and tested to see their worthiness.

Once determination is made as to whether they are good enough to withstand the process, they are heated in the hottest fire. As it’s heated, it becomes softer. The molecules run around and separate making the once rigid material pliable. During this process the subject can be joined to another, melding them as one. 

Pressure forms the material into a desired shape. 

Heat and pressure, heat and pressure. Fire and hammer. Melting and forcing. Resisting and relenting. 

Too much heat and the material can be rendered completely useless. Not enough heat and it will resist. A delicate balance has to happen in order to have the desired result. Too much resistance and the material becomes brittle and the work is wasted. 

In the hands of a master, something beautiful happens. 

Slowly the crafting brings the art to life. 

Molten metal softens, molecules calm as they submit to their new position and soft curves take shape. The heating and forcing cease and the grinding begins. 

Tiny particles of sand rubbing against the blunt edges agitate and take away thickness and unnecessary accumulation. Friction over and over and over against the hard surface defines the edge and sharpens-the point is made. 

Finally, the polishing takes place. The master uses care with the softness of leather and cloth to bring out the beauty of the piece. Patience and care caress the surface and brings the sheen to life. Hours and even days can pass before the creation gains the approval of the master and can be utilized for it’s new purpose.

Once an object of usefulness, left to the rot and decay of the elements, finally brought to new life through trial and hardship-a new and polished tool. Beautiful to the eye, useful to the world. 

This new life can be full of hard work too. It may be used daily and require frequent sharpening, or it might be treasured by someone as a gift, a story and reminder of how it got to be. 

Either way, it’s useful, and that in itself is beautiful.

Sometimes I can feel like I’m being heated, stretched and hammered. I just pray I’m not rebellious and become brittle. Through the trials and hardness that life can bring, I’d like to remain pliable, moldable and useful, even though I catch myself running away from the process like a crazed molecule trying to find it’s resting place. I’d like my life to be a useful testimony to someone, the constant polishing to reflect the face of Christ in me.

In the hands of my creator and master I know I’m picked up out of the mess and held in His hands. As He carefully turns me over and decides when and how to use me, I want to be cleaned and polished until He is pleased with me. That may take a lot of time and painful sharpening. Prayerfully I won’t be resistant to His pressure, but perfectly tempered and easily formed into the useful tool that He desires. 

Proverbs 27:17