For many years, a blacksmith worked hard and performed many acts of charity; yet despite all his devotion, nothing seemed to go right in his life.
One afternoon, a friend was visiting him was concerned:
‘It really is very strange that despite your firm belief in the spiritual world, nothing in your life has improved.’
The blacksmith answered:
‘The unworked steel arrives in my workshop and I have to make swords out of it. Do you know how that is done? First, I heat the metal until it is red-hot, then I beat it mercilessly with my heaviest hammer until the metal takes on the form I need. Then I plunge it into a bucket of cold water and the whole workshop is filled with the roar of steam, while the metal sizzles and crackles in response to the sudden change in temperature. I have to keep repeating that process until the sword is perfect: once is not enough.’
The blacksmith paused for a long time, then went on:
‘Sometimes the steel I get simply can’t withstand such treatment. The heat, the hammer blows, the cold water cause it to crack. And I know that I will never be able to make it into a good sword blade. Then I throw it on the pile of scrap metal that you saw at the entrance to the workshop.’
‘I know that God is putting me through the fire of afflictions. I have accepted the blows that life deals out to me, and sometimes I feel as cold and indifferent as the water that inflicts such pain on the steel.
“But my one prayer is this: Please, God, do not give up until I have taken on the shape that You wish for me.
“Do this by whatever means You think best, for as long as You like, but never ever throw me on the scrap heap of souls.’
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” Scrap heap of souls” – I find this image a poor human idea. In nature exists no garbage.
Here comes another inspirational story. Every time i read Paulo’s writings, i feel it was written keeping my life in mind. One can effortlessly relate to the Creator-Creation bond that is weaved through each word that Paulo employs. Jus when one thinks ” that was a holistic experience” this ingenious Writer creates a suspension bridge and transports us to another level. Well done Paulo.
I’am back … after being hit and hit, turned over and over, soaked in cold water … soo much that I found myself wandering if I should not put myself on the scrap mountain. I had no more connection to myself, to anything, blank, void … being there was a passage which meant that I would not see things as I used to the week before, the moment before, that I had to revisite many thoughts, believes, etc …, which is unconfortable by moments, having to make my own sense, my own interpretation of me and my life among all those past experiences, all the experience of here and now, all that I read, heard, learned from others, shared by others … coming back here and now is now with the acceptance of letting the signs be my guidance, letting the moment be my light, since for the first time I have at the moment not the same drive to maintain this or that, not the proof of nothing, not all the responses that I need. I think that for the first time, I am walking my path with the openess and the letting go of my power who wants to control and follow a mental that can be many times in the error, in the illusion. I am giving me the right to just not know here and now where the path leads, resisting wanting this or that, or finding absolutely the destination, or how I should be or not be … I just am here and now, not asking nothing of me, in the process of I do not know. I am the steel that just got out of the cold water, considered good to be kept from the scrap ward and “there is all there to make a perfect sword” … Love, Jojo XXX
I have always wanted to tell you that you inspire me. Your blog and books remind me that I have to remain strong especially now in my time of need. So thank you for that. :)
I have always wanted to tell you that you inspire me. Your blog and books remind me that I have to remain strong especially now. So thank you. :)
SNi puo’ essere uno scarto vivendo..,penso che il continuo confrontarsi nell’essere piu’ che nell’apparire richieda la mano del fabbro sempre pronta a limare le imperfezioni.Cos’e’ la perfezione…non si puo’ essere precisi ,(perfetti è un concetto che va oltre)sempre ,ogni giorno della nostra vita.Quante aspettative deluse,i giorni mai uguali,quante prove.Cio’ nonostante noi come fabbri (della nostra vita),dobbiamo sempre credere in una seconda opportunita’e non solo….perche’ la nostra mano è fallibile.Il confronto richiesto è quello che noi mettiamo in atto con il nostro animo ,di conseguenza con gli altri.Non bisogna mai sentirsi arrivati,
Quand on a mal ca vient de l’ame.
et comme le f or geron on fait l’or quand nous le gerons avec la foi,
avec amour
Marie-Christine
I like the last lines of your article. It reminds me to do exactly the same. I also prayed so hard to strengthen my faith in Him, consistently doing my very best in my endeavors. Thanks for the post! =)
Dear Paulo Coelho,
I am a TV journalist from Indonesia – planning to visit Brazil next year doing some stories on Brazil. On our assignment I need to interview some public figures or prominent figures that are inspiring. It would be a great honor to have a chance to interview you. I will send you the details of our purposes regarding the interview with you by email. Therefore, would you be mind if I ask for your official email address? Thank you very much, and look forward to hear from you soon. Tania.
Oh my email is: tanianataya@gmail.com or tania.nataya@tvone.co.id
Thanks. Hope to hear from you.
The blacksmith is a man who knows there is more to life than only him. He knows people will hurt him through greed and not caring. But, not feeling the loving kindness all the time does not mean he needs to stop what God gives him.
Thanks Paulo. This story is about faith and believe. It is only achieved when we pass all the tests we have gone through. God is Great..!
“But my one prayer is this: Please, God, do not give up until I have taken on the shape that You wish for me.
“Do this by whatever means You think best, for as long as You like, but never ever throw me on the scrap heap of souls.’
— I suddenly have this urge to cry. At times we can feel a little too hopeless because of circumstances, thinking that no good will come out of our lives that is why I think this prayer resonates within me.
‘It really is very strange that despite your firm belief in the spiritual world, nothing in your life has improved.’
——————————————————————–
Any kind of art (=anything you do with your he-art) is useless if it is not applied foremost to the artist…
consequently, if the blacksmith isn’t transformed the way the steel is, all this is useless… his heart will not beat in sync with the steel… and all his time and ultimately his life was in vain..
I am a song-smith..I transform the notes into melodies and songs, I put the notes and the beats into an ‘oven’ and turn to songs… and those that cannot be worked more or they cannot turn to what I have in mind, i leave them aside.. arrangements and scores of songs that I don’t touch again.. so for a prayer I will ask the same as the blacksmith did..
please God, dear God, don’t put me in that pile of songs that have not become the most beautiful they can be… please…
Love and Gratitude
Annie
A veces los cambios son tan repentinos que en pocas semanas soy otro, las nubes desaparecen, veo otro mundo. Se que en el calor de la fragua, no existe otra cosa que no sea la lucha por resistir, el acero no sabe, que en breve será espada, simplemente resiste porque tiene alma de espada. Aunque mañana empiece el pulido, hoy sigue empié resistiendo porque no recuerda el aire libre, solo la fragua, no sabe que mañana todo abrá acabado, aunque siempre ha sabido que es una espada.
Un saludo, el acero comprende que si quiere combertirse en algo más necesita pasar por la fragua, aunque no deje de quejarse, al final del día solo pide fuerza para resistir, al fin y al cabo, siempre ha tenido alma de espada.
Hasta mañana.
Well I still do my best ….. but sometimes Im just so fed up with God giving me so many taks ;-) So then I take a break and dont care about God for a while ….. I need to rest from God too *LOL*
He is so demanding …… and I just want to play sometimes … I need to be childish too ;-)
Well …. Im not really sure if God is aware of what his asking for me …… well I do my best ….. sometimes it isn´t enough ….. but Im proud that I did my best anyway ;-) Love Jessica
This anecdote is parable.its underlying theme is that impatience has never demanded success.so be patient.perseverant….success is inevitable…..nice one
A beautiful story. It stimulates much food for thought. Why do I have with this story, the feeling of a threat? Why has the blacksmith fear of punishment from God? God is not love, forgiveness and mercy? Is he the punishing and avenging God? God create no tasks. He supports us in our desires, in our work. He supports our dreams, the good fight, as you said. We are the task. I can not agree to the blacksmith. I agree with Thelma. It’s almost Christmas. There, the blacksmith would find his answer. There no sword can be found. Only love, the most powerful sword.
I wish you all a wonderful evening
This is exactly what I needed to read today. I feel exactly like the blacksmith and I thank you Mr. Coehlo for this post.
If you feel it, then you will make it happen. Why do we put negative thoughts out there when we say that we do not want negative things?
Is it because we do not think? or Becuse we want bad things to happen to us? Please make up your mind and decide what is that yu want and think accordingly to reach it.
vincentsylvan
So true for so many folks. The problem is with all of a persons faith there really are no solid answers.
Amen.
Thank you for your words, Paulo. I can understand those who do not like the picture you are painting. A few years ago I probably would have been one of them since I know how gentle and lovingly Gods guidance can be. However, hard blows are unavoidable in life and for me it is necessary to believe that even those blows have a meaning, even if I cannot possibly see such a meaning. This is a believe that helps going on when everything around you is collapsing/changing. And it makes it possible to keep on walking and being able to trust in God, despite everything. The steel is improving and getting stronger during the process and that also applies to a person.
With love and gratitude.
Petra
Collapsing, not getting what you like, people who do not like. etc. etc.
Who cares!!! Stop forging badly! The metal is good and the blacksmith is good since he is at work. What is not so good is the picture of the object you are forging. People mention so often God in bane that God provably heights them with a passion; I know I would… Vincensylvan
I don’t believe that God gives up on us and throws us in the “scraps”. We do it to ourselves, we give up on ourselves. We do this when we do not open ourselves completely to all the opportunities that he hands to us. I believe that we are not given anything we can not handle…hardships will come our way, if we are able to let go of our anger and stop victimizing ourselves, we will be able to confront any situation and grow from it…that’s how we will shape ourselves in our own true value…The more we are given, the more we are given opportunities to further become who we are meant to be…if we shut ourselves we will miss to recognize the opportunity and give up on ourselves….I came across the below passage a few years back, although I had a good laugh at the end, I learned a valuable lesson:
Everyone was listening to the preacher give his usual Sunday morning sermon. All of a sudden, someone came bursting in with a warning that a flood was coming. It started to down pour, soon the church was flooding. Everyone immediately started evacuating the village, except for the preacher who continued his sermon .
A man drives by in his car and shouts out to the preacher, “Hurry, get in the car before you drown, I’ll save you.”
The preacher replied, “Don’t worry. God will save me.”
The water was now rising at waist-level. Another man in a power boat came by and shouts out to the preacher, “Hurry get in the boat, before you drown, I’ll save you.”
Once again, the preacher did not move and replied “Don’t worry. God will save me.”
The water now reached up to the preacher’s neck. This time a man in a helicopter came by and shouts out to the preacher, “Hurry, climb up the rope ladder, before you drown, I’ll save you.”
The preacher refused to go and insisted, “Don’t worry. God will save me.”
The preacher ended up under the water and drowned.
When he woke up, God was standing in front of him. The preacher asks him,”Oh God! Why didn’t you save me from the flood?”
God replied, “I sent you a car, a power boat, and a helicopter! What else do you want from me?”
Please Mr. Paulo Coelho…. Respond to my comment that I need for my homework this friday. I’l not lose hope. Thank you!
my comment that have 3 questions about chosing you to be my role model in possessing fortitude. Please. please, please.
Love this blog!
Your quote inspired me for a artwork: “A totally-satisfied” http://www.flickr.com/photos/54040156@N02/6466089545/in/photostream
Ah, your posts give a certain peace to mind. Brilliant!
Love your posts, your heart, but there was always something I can’t under-Stand about you: your being too harsh on your way of seeing things or God and sometimes harsh on you too.
But probably that’s because it is part of your character, of who you are, of someone who likes to fight.
That attracts my attention since I tend to caught myself criticizing me very often and in the other hand I always thought that nothing needs to be learned in a harsh way except if we like it so. Especially if don’t forget that the universe responds to how we see things, what we want, what we believe… that we are masters of our own realities.
And there are many questions in my mind right now…
Love
Olta
Scrapping, getting rid of things, always perfectings our souls, always evolving, always becoming better….it’s a wondeful story Mr.Coelho.
And the prayer so simple, so humble, I’m sure those prayers are always heard -”Please, God, do not give up until I have taken on the shape that You wish for me”.
Have a wonderful day
With love
Barbara
This is the times in life called Stagnation. Does the blacksmith need to stay blacksmith during thick and thin? Yes and no. There are times when swords are transformed to plow irons, and the blacksmith gets some new welcomed challenges. There are sudden possibilities in life when a stranger may say; Come follow me, and the blacksmith forgets all about the sad handy work of making swords, and goes, travels and follow his adventurous soul. And before he knows it, he meets a goldsmith who teaches him to create the most beautiful jewelry in the world. And the blacksmith, now turned goldsmith lived happily ever after..
http://youtu.be/1IRQaeE4z4Y
Gonzos’ Do it your self enlightenment! : ) : )
It needed all be so serious!!
Love
Breda
PS Feel free to re post with the Gonzo pic ..its not happening for me : )
if I do the groud work G O D will take care of the rest…
Love
Breda
HI Breda ,
wll do good to urself and the rest will be taken care of by Almighty…:)
regards,
Himanshu
I love it most if the topic is about GOD. It’s wonderful!! Mr. Coelho your GREAT. Your a instrument of GOD inspiring millions of people like me ;) <3 <3
‘..but never ever throw me on the scrap heap of souls.’
I do not think that there is such thing as ”’scrap soul’. We all have come to fulfill a task. Other maybe at the first steps of the Ladder, some are in the middle and some on .. top! Each one is playing his role -his destiny! And no matter what happens to us, inside us dwells the Light! His spark, his ‘blow’, LOVE. Nobody can ‘judge’ and there is no such thing as .. punishment! Our consciousness is our Judge and … Judgement Day is NOW! We can change the past, the present and the future, which are just elements of the Material World into the ETERNAL values: LOVE.
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
Hi Thelma ,
ur words are tru…Those also serve who stand and stare!
regards,
Himanshu
Well said Thelma, People should watch more what they give to their subconscious mind and less to the things they do not like.
This site is turning many people into a God’s cult. How about living the life that we have here in this Earth, to the best of our expectations, and leaving God in Heaven for when we get there????
Isn’t your mission to live your life since you realize that you were born, rather than finding excuses for not expanding your greatness?
vincentsylvan@gmail.com
Thank you Himanshu and Vincentsylvan for reading my comment.
‘His Will be done on Earth as in Heaven..’
LOVE,
Thelma xxx
my one prayer is this: Please, God, do not give up until I have taken on the shape that You wish for me.
“Do this by whatever means You think best, for as long as You like, but never ever throw me on the scrap heap of souls.’
amen
We should always remember that life’s lesson never come free.
Working hard is human’s nature and opportunity given to us by the god to keep ourselves busy with the daily karmas of life. This power which only human has as god is free from this. Charity is related with soul and soul speaks or does what it feels or understood. Testing as acid is godly way of perfection. The more you suffer the more you learn. It is life lesson to all and no one is spared.
The visit of friend is like a knocking of god to know that you are doing ok and in perfect shape. The concern of friend is like the speaking by karma to you. Nothing is as pious as soul and soul is connected with spirituality in basic form hence the soul does not keep nor maintain account of good deeds.
The humans are raw and unfinished products of god. They are not perfect nor properly built up. There is many deficiencies in human i.e. anger, pain, sorrow, anxiety, crying’s, cruelty, violence, wrong decision makings, recklessness etc. That is why we all sent to earth so that the feelings which encounter us on every turn shall become calm and we should understand that life has brought this to make us perfect. The whole issue of perfectness brings best in us. The process remain continue through rein carnation or re-birth till the perfect comes out in us.
Being human beings and weak source of energy, we try to reverse the process as we feel that we are not able to go through the pain and sufferings which are to be come in the life. We resist and try to become unfit for going through this phase without understanding that the life than be full of garbage and waste. But the comforts and short success come in between and hijack the motive of life. It is rather the hijacking of god’s will. But we feel so happy with ephemeral success that we think or take it as actual life. Again the whole cycle is knitted so the circumstances that leads us to darkness and procuring the humanity from its basic start can revive and we could be again sent to same factory of life and its rebirths.
One who may know this is most lucky person of his time. All the great saints/ angles, avatars have understood it. They take this fire for resting and every criticism and blow as blessing for their reformation. The pain of body is actually the nirvana path for soul. They thanked their enemies for giving them what they have i.e. Pain, hate, demotivation. They thanked their friends for their love and faith. They know that they are the lovely child of GOD. They know this is the way the god has chosen for them to merge them with him. They know that is the path which is leading them to their best friend-GOD.
Marx said: “religion is the opium for the masses.”
this story is a good example for his quote.
how much does such a story actually asks for the keeping/apologizing of misery instead of working for improvement?
Very well said Katie, but working to improve yourself is hard work, and more so when you do not have a project or purpose. I guess the first step for us humans is to “Find a purpose to your life”. And do not live vicariously through others.
vincentsylvan
Josh Groban is one of my favorite classical-pop singer after Hayley Westenra.
God Helps those who help themselves… Be prepared to do the work in life after being rewarded by life…example, winning the lottery is not for one selfishness but to help a greater whole. i think of this as part of god’s teachings.
ya that is what everyone keeps on telling ? but I wonder why could it not be the otherway round. if u go towards god u'r life takes a turn for the better. One anyway will have to accept whatever life offers, blows and bouquets, whatever. is there any other way. even when one must accept what life has to offer, is it not our duty and right to change what life offers us.
beautiful.
because eventually the temptation to ‘spoil’ that notebook will get us all….or something sober like that….
beautiful.
love you all
mother, oh mother, why have we become so blind to your love, your soul,
so serene leaves falling to the ground having fulfilled their purpose,
its this industrial revolution that boggles me, whats this so called revolution? where does it progress,
now nuclear is safe they say,but how so I believe them after all these big blunders that i perceive everyday around me.
bo0om paulo
lol
A child often leaves his favorite notebooks empty. “Too beautiful,” he says. “I might destroy it if I leave a note there, and then I might need to throw it away.”
Now, depending on which “type” of mother you have, she might say, “Don’t be silly! Don’t waste this notebook.” Or she might just smile. She knows time, and what it does to wine.
I didnt like this. God is not cool.
the words appear double , flux , but I know what i say…that which is not a sword is a gate. and that which is open shall be enterable..to enter in,,..check out my log…click
love
I understand like this.
Metal cannot change its own shape. It must rely on the blacksmith to change its form and become something of purpose. As related to humankind… God is the blacksmith, we must surrender to him and trust that he knows how to shape us and change us and that the proccess will not be neccessarily pleasant but it will transform us into something of purpose.(a sword)If we do not allow ourselves to be transformed by God our spiritual purpose or destiny cannot be met. The scraps of metal are still the same material as that of the sword. But because of fear of pain or fear of letting go of the shape or way we have always been we have chosen to be spiritually disconnected from God and become part of the (scrapheap of souls.)
it took millions of years in gods furnace to create that concentration of iron ore. Remember that steel,s strengths is its impurities in carbon.
And the thought of all those swords(guns)purpose gives me the jitters.
Why do we have to destroy and later regret?
today bush was soo arrogant about other peoples democracies, he has literally made iraq a scrap pile.
sad that the americans dont recognize another Hitler amongst them.
bo0om
fLUXman
The Confession sung by Josh Groban… it’s moving. Your tears would well up if you heard it, speak it as if it were a confession to the God of your longing, Muslim, Catholic, Buddhists, Bahaii etc. alike.
Leaf, God did the same for me too… He filled me up. Brought the smiles, the sadness, the dares. Brought the love too. And the fear (which really is awe).
The scrap heap of souls… I don’t know about that one too. I imagine that God treats every creation as treasure. Every single one. His love POURS.
ya that is what everyone keeps on telling ? but I wonder why could it not be the otherway round. if u go towards god u’r life takes a turn for the better. One anyway will have to accept whatever life offers, blows and bouquets, whatever. is there any other way. even when one must accept what life has to offer, is it not our duty and right to change what life offers us.
Nice story! :-)
It reminded me of another one which sounds like this:
One day, in a church, two men with guns entered the building and said to all those who were participating in the ceremony:
‘Who is willing to accept a bullet for his faith, stay here! The rest, go outside.’
Only a handful of people remained in the chirch after that.
And the respective man said: ‘O.K., dear God, now that all the phonies are out, the ceremony may continue.’
The questions are the following: how many of us are willing to become better people, to sacrifice their daily pleasures and comfort for God? How many of us are sincere towards God, themselves or others? Do we wish to become perfect for God or are we satified with half-measures? How much do we want to endure everything without expecting anything in return just for the sake of love and of doing something good? If nobody saw that we perform a good deed, would we still do it?
Dearest Paulo,
Today’s story was so beautiful. I completely loved reading it but more importantly, it made a difference in my life. I do know of someone very close to me who’s life seemed to get worse as time time went on, despite his constant spiritual belief.. And he continues to dedicate his life to God. As much as i find it admirable, i pray for him, that his soul isn’t “thrown into a heap of souls.” i know that sometimes in life you have to reach the very bottom before you can go up, and the very journey of going to the bottom and rising, makes you who you are. Everything in life does happen for a reason, no matter how painful it may seem at the time. God never gives you something you cannot handle.. He is always there.. In everything, everywhere.
Thank you for being.
Yajna
I like this story….when I gave my soul to God, he did the same to me….everyone I think….we come out of the furnace, shine for a while, get used for our purpose in His plan, be we gold or clay pots….and when we break, or are damaged…back into the smelting pot and start over.
Also, I do not know about a scrapheap of souls….impurities in us are refined also…the steel worker finds his medium in metal, he may have bought cheap materials (a bad worker always blames his tools, as they say)……god finds it in the Ore, the raw material….and after some poor souls have spent time digging it up, the heat from that furnace is like the sun itself.
Purification.
Love to all.
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