THE PENCIL AND IT'S CREATOR, A BRILLIANT SKETCH TOWARDS A BEAUTIFUL FUTURE

Hello Steemians, trust all is smooth.

Its my first time to reach out to the community after i introduced myself last weekend.

My shout out once again goes to all steemians especially @euronation family. The perfect love and massive support shown before and during my introductory post "me and my why...a reflection" was one of a kind. It was given in measures i could not fathom; it would last me for so long.

I appreciate you all. You guys rock!

boldINTRODUCTION

italicCredit: slideshare (google)

"italicNO MATTER YOUR CONDITION, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO WRITE"...Anonymous

I heard the parable of the pencil for the first time when i was a kid, but the message gained such a strong mojo while i grow. It has restructured my thinking and approach to virtually every areas of life. The affirmation "you are a pencil" has so far helped me react positively to situations.

It was as if the homilist was sent solely to minister to me. A young man was ready to take his vows of poverty, chastity and obedience for the love of priesthood that day. However, i'll disagree that he grasped the "pencil message" better than i did even at my tender age.

The pencil as we know is used to write and draw, just like other materials of its kind. But compared to others, the pencil is special in appearance, features and functions.

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"WE ARE NOTHING BUT PENCILS IN THE HANDS OF THE CREATOR"...anonymous

italiccredit: Oladipupo Odelola (artist)

Have we ever wondered why the composer did not use "pen" in the above quote? What does the quote even mean to us? Why the "pencil"?

A creator to me is the moulder, builder, inventor, producer of a thing or an event. He is technically the brain behind a project, work or creature. Before any good work, a creator spends time to plan, brain-storm and strategize with a particular purpose in mind.

But several other art materials has been created, why so much importance to the pencil? Maybe we'll find answers as we read on.

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THE CREATOR'S ADVICE
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"The pencil maker took the pencil aside just before putting it into the box. "There are five things you need to know", he told the pencil, "before I send you out into the world. Always remember them and never forget, and you will become the best pencil you can be:

1. YOU WILL BE ABLE TO DO MANY THINGS BUT ONLY IF YOU ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD IN SOMEONE'S HAND

italiccredit: slideshare (google)

No matter the attribute, a pencil can never decide to work by itself. But it is always available to be used by men when creative need arises. Then, through the instinct and direction of the user or owner, the pencil delivers submissively.

How often do we as individuals submit ourselves for the use of our community? How selfless can we go in terms of service for humanity? This thought should cut across all aspect of our life. Do we always yield to simple instructions even at work? Are we always there to follow advice of elders, or do we always rebel against them? How often do we listen, how long do we strive to persevere without complaints?

In order to be great, the pencil allows itself to be used by men; we should emulate this singular act of followership and greatness will not be far-fetched.

1. YOU WILL EXPERIENCE A PAINFUL SHARPENING FROM TIME TO TIME, BUT YOU'LL NEED IT TO BECOME A BETTER PENCIL.

italiccredit: saving common sense (google)

Emphasis must be laid that the pencil need to be sharpened from time to time in order to keep up to standard.

Using a dull pencil as we might have experienced is worse than doing nothing because it may stain and roughen our sheet. And so we take out time to sharpen the tip of our pencil in accordance with the importance of the "purpose" for which it is needed to serve. But for the pencil, this exercise has never been easy. The sorrows and pains may be pretty much of an encounter. Besides, some "sharpeners" are sharper than others, while the sharpening skill or approach of the user differs.

Despite all, the pencil endures all pain bearing in mind it will bring out the "mighty" in it.

People often grumble and momour over their stress in the course of great works. The adage: "there is no rose without thorns" may not be welcomed by many. And so they surrender easily after little effort: they give in to little persecution and give up to little pressure.

They'll stop gyming after few days of pain, same with the business after few times of loss. They'll decide to quit their promising relationships after just few episodes of quarrel, get weighed down in times of uncertainties and would stop praying and believing just after few tries.

We tend to "lose it" often times when the "pencil" of our life appears dull and exhausted.

The creator wants us to see and treat pains as source of motivation. We are only dull because we have laboured for so long and need to be rejuvenated and sharpened to perform even better tasks in future.

Sharpening could be in form of training, practices, studies, seminars, vigils, workshop, advice or anything that makes us complete. It may as well take the ugly look of criticism, persecution, blames or suspensions.

We must be persevering enough to embrace pains for better productivity.

3 YOU WILL BE ABLE TO CORRECT ANY MISTAKE YOU MIGHT MAKE

italiccredit: slideshare (google)

Perhaps this feature stands the pencil out of other tools. Only the pencil of all tool is able to erase its past and re-write for the future. No other tool can do this!

It is imperative to ponder over our pasts, to retrace our steps. However it will be irrational if we do not correct the crooked times of failure. That is the joy of looking back! We should not just blame, Lament, cry, get bittered and feel resentful over those times we feel we should have been more clinical. Rather we should erase those ugly past from our hearts and thoughts and rewrite our future with positive lifestyle.

Let's "exhale the past and inhale the future."

4 THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF YOU WILL ALWAYS BE WHAT IS INSIDE.

italiccredit: slideshare (google)

A book can not be judged by its cover. What makes a pencil is not the wood without, but the lead within. It is fair to say therefore that the thin black lead within is the actual pencil, not the casing. The motor vehicle can be used in similar comparison. The engine is actually what makes the vehicle.

Just as the motor engine is fitted within and shielded with a casing or "body", what makes us who we are is embedded within us. Our body is but a casing.

Knowing this should help us make better choices in life. It should make us consider taking better care of what lies within us. We should prefer to be healthier in heart and mind than look good in appearance. As we rub our skin with expensive cosmetics, we should nourish our minds with educative contents.

Our unstained personality and untarnished image should be top in our mind and we must do all we can to keep a "clean sheet" in our relationship with our community.

Let's strive to do good, not just to look good.

1. ON EVERY SURFACE YOU ARE USED ON, YOU MUST LEAVE A MARK. NO MATTER THE CONDITION, YOU MUST CONTINUE TO WRITE.

italiccredit: Ezsoftech.com (google)

The perception of drawings, sketches and writings will tell the quality of effort the pencil put in. It will make or mar the joy of the owner and would determine it's recommendation for future projects.

Of what good will it be if we do not work hard enough to leave a positive mark? Good or bad, our works and actions will be reviewed and discussed, even when we are no more.

The tales of our earthly deeds would be told to our future generations, it has to sweeten their hearts. We should live as though we'll die today, so as to live on even in death.

It is pertinent and better to live the life we would be proud of, but importantly we must always try even if we've failed on several occasions. We must keep the zeal alive until our last breath.

IN CONCLUSION

The instructions in the parable if religiously followed would enhance in our life a clearer sense of direction. The creator may be different personalities to us: our parents, elders, teachers and all those who we report to even in offices. Making them proud after our accomplishments would bring about joy and trust. The lessons are there to direct us.

Just like humans the pencil also have a lifespan and would be gone with time. But what remains is the indelible mark it would have made while in service. We will also be assessed after every task. What will be said of us?

We should always remember the need to become a better pencil in all we say and do. The thought will make us obey more, serve more, believe more, persevere more, learn more till we become more fulfilled.

"The biggest room is the room for improvement".

At the end, it is the mark we leave that matters most...let's keep a "clean sheet".

I'm @tomfreeman... I'm interested in success.