As pencils properly used leave meaningful marks on the surfaces they touch, people who accept guidance by the Maker’s hand leave positive influences on the lives of others.
Storytelling takes many forms, but stories that endure — those that remain popular down through the ages — have in common certain elements that cause listeners or readers to remain attentive from the first word to the last: They are simple, impart moral and spiritual instructions, and describe human transformation.
For many people, myself included, parables do the best job of combining these elements. Following is my version of a parable that illustrates them.
The Pencil Maker said to a pencil, “Before I send you forth into the world, you must understand that, in order to be the best pencil you can be, you must always be mindful of what I am about to tell you.” The pencil listened attentively to his Maker.
“First, you must realize that you are capable of doing much good in the world, but only if you obey a guiding hand. From time to time, you must be sharpened, and though you may find these occasions unsettling and difficult to endure, you will come to realize that they are necessary.
“Because of your unique design, you have the power to correct your mistakes, but only if you obey the still, small voice that speaks from within.
“Though you are rather plain on the outside and because the hand will make much use of you, your exterior will become worn, nicked and scarred as time goes by, but always remember: Your Maker designed you so that your best, most important part is on the inside.
“Your purpose is to do the best job of leaving marks on all surfaces you touch, and though doing this repeatedly may become wearying, you must continue writing, for this is what you were made for. Remain attentive to this duty, and you will be transformed, as your Maker intended. Now, go forth and complete your mission.”
As any reader can easily discern, the Pencil Maker’s metaphorical reference is humankind, and the instructions are clear and straightforward. To complete life’s mission, all people, regardless of their abilities — intellectual, physical or otherwise — must constantly seek and accept guidance by the Maker’s hand, and though they may view their purpose as small and unimportant when compared to the purpose of others, in the Maker’s eyes it is equally as large and important.
The Maker did not intend for this journey through life, this transformation, to be easy. As pencils must be sharpened from time to time to remain useful, so must human beings be subjected to the honing that comes only with setbacks, heartaches, loss, pain and suffering.
Through these difficulties, what is on the inside becomes more beautiful than what is on the outside, and they become stronger and more capable of enduring until their usefulness is completed.
As pencils properly used leave meaningful marks on the surfaces they touch, people who accept guidance by the Maker’s hand leave positive influences on the lives of others.
By doing so, they complete their transformation and are rewarded eternally — the ultimate lesson of the pencil parable.
Jimmy Reed is an Oxford, Mississippi resident, Ole Miss and Delta State University alumnus, Vietnam Era Army Veteran, former Mississippi Delta cotton farmer and ginner, author, and retired college teacher.
This story is a selection from Jimmy Reed’s latest book, entitled The Jaybird Tales.
Copies, including personalized autographs, can be reserved by notifying the author via email (.(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)).
