Horseshoes and fire

Wednesday, March 25

There is a story about a young apprentice who was tasked with making horseshoes. He didn’t like how long it took, watching the master blacksmith take the horseshoe in and out of the fire multiple times as he shaped it. “This takes too long. There must be a faster way,” the apprentice mumbled.

So he got a hammer and, with enough effort and time, shaped the horseshoe how he wanted it. He smiled to himself as he looked at what he thought was his masterpiece.

A few days later, a farmer showed up frustrated. “This horseshoe is broken. It didn’t last. I need another one.” Concerned, the master blacksmith inspected the broken horseshoe. He looked at the apprentice, then back at the horseshoe. “This wasn’t forged in fire. No wonder it didn’t last. The fire is what makes it strong and durable. We’ll get it replaced.”

The story is a reminder of our process, of our journey, of this pursuit of growth that we are on. We want the shortcut. “There must be a faster way.” But there isn’t. To become who are meant to be we must go through struggle, we must go through hardship, we must be tested.

Without these moments, we don’t have the strength or capacity to handle the growth we say we want. We would be trees without a strong root system. Homes without a sturdy foundation.

The season you are in may not be the season you want to be in. But it is shaping and strengthening you for seasons to come. The work is the shortcut. Stay committed. ​
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Keep chopping wood. 🪵🪓

-Kevin