Once upon a time there lived a stonecutter who was dissatisfied with his life. One day, on his way to work, he passed by a beautiful mansion. It belonged to a rich merchant. He paused in mere amusement simply glaring at the beauty of human creation.
From where he stood, he saw fine possessions, renowned guests, and plenty of workers and servants all set to work. He became envious and deeply wished to have everything the wealthy and powerful merchant did.
Suddenly, the stone cutter swept into the merchant, taking over his mind and body. He was aware of the merchant’s innermost feelings, thoughts and memories. He felt the joy of owning all the luxuries in the world money could buy. He knew the pleasure of holding such a respectable position in society. Many honored him while many more envied him.
After a few days of enjoying the merchant’s life, he saw a Sultan being carried in a sedan chair accompanied by attendants, soldiers and servants. Everyone, despite their power and wealth, was obliged to bow before this figure that was worshiped as God.
After seeing this, he knew he had been mistaken about the merchant’s power and status. In a split second, he moved into the body of the Sultan; mighty and feared. Then he knew what it felt like to be exalted and glorified by the entire kingdom, to hold the power to pardon or take a man’s life; what it was like to be respected by sultans and kings from other lands. And with all this power came exclusive luxury as a bonus, more than anyone could ever dream of.
One day, on a hot summer noon, he was extremely uneasy. His overweight body made the heat even more intolerable. He looked up at the sun and thought about how it was absolutely unaffected by his presence. He then swiftly became the sun, blazing with glory, the source of life and strength of every living creature on the planet. He continued to radiate until a massive storm gathered below him hindering the strength of his rays. The storm then burst into pouring rain. Seeing this, he became the cloud. He felt the incredible power of its existence as it swept along the sky flooding everything it wished to. There was nothing that could beat the storm.
However, he soon realized that the entire root of his power was yet another force- wind; the strength of the rain was negligible without the wind. And so he became it; blowing off the roofs of houses, uprooting trees and everything else that came in its way.
There was yet another force that strangled his ego- a huge, towering rock. The wind would blow against it with a velocity and force of ultimate magnitude. The rock would stand still, unmoved and indispensable.
He then became it; a solid, dense, immortal and powerful existential factor on earth. After a while, he heard a familiar sound; the sound that is heard when a rock is stricken by a set of tools.
“…chink, chink, chink…”
“…chink, chink, chink…”
He then felt himself being chiseled– cut into, re-formed. He looked down at the artist, the figure of a stone cutter!
There is a way which seems right to a person, but its end is the way of death. Proverbs 16:25
Therefore, if you have been raised with Christ, keep seeking the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on the things that are above, not on the things that are on earth. For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is our life, is revealed, then you also will be revealed with Him in glory. Colossians 3:1-4
