The Refiner's Fire Poem by Jon Ojala

The Master Swordsmith starts
with a dull, jagged lump of steel.
He heats it in a forge until it glows bright red.
Then he hammers it on the anvil,
slowly shaping the metal,
always keeping in mind the final outcome.
Repeating the process slowly, over and over,
heating, hammering, shaping, cooling,
slowly, over and over again he repeats the steps,
until the lump of steel is gradually transformed
into a thing of exquisite beauty.
So it is also with our individual character;
how we respond to the trials of life
ultimately determines who we are.
We can learn from the challenges we face
or we can succumb to them.
As the philosopher once noted:
' It is not in the still, smooth waters of life
that a great character is born'.
In all the experiences that we face
let us never forget
the eternal truth that
Our life is God's gift to us;
what we do with that life is
our gift to God.

© ® 2009 Jon Ojala