Once a
sturdy woodcutter in search of a job went to a timber merchant and he got it.
The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the
woodcutter was determined to do his best.
sturdy woodcutter in search of a job went to a timber merchant and he got it.
The pay was really good and so was the work condition. For those reasons, the
woodcutter was determined to do his best.
His boss
gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work.
gave him an axe and showed him the area where he supposed to work.
The first
day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.
day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees.
“Congratulations,”
the boss said. “Go on that way!”
the boss said. “Go on that way!”
Very
motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he
could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could
only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.
motivated by the boss words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he
could only bring 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but he could
only bring 10 trees. Day after day he was bringing less and less trees.
“I must
be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and
apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.
be losing my strength”, the woodcutter thought. He went to the boss and
apologized, saying that he could not understand what was going on.
“When was
the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.
the last time you sharpened your axe?” the boss asked.
“Sharpen?
I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”
I had no time to sharpen my axe. I have been very busy trying to cut trees…”
So What We Can Learn?
Our lives are like that. We sometimes get
so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”. In today’s world, it
seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever.
so busy that we don’t take time to sharpen the “axe”. In today’s world, it
seems that everyone is busier than ever, but less happy than ever.
Why is that? Could it be that we have
forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard
work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things
in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our Creator,
giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.
forgotten how to stay “sharp”? There’s nothing wrong with activity and hard
work. But we should not get so busy that we neglect the truly important things
in life, like our personal life, taking time to get close to our Creator,
giving more time for our family, taking time to read etc.
We all need time to relax, to think and
meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the “axe”, we
will become dull and lose our effectiveness.
meditate, to learn and grow. If we don’t take the time to sharpen the “axe”, we
will become dull and lose our effectiveness.
If you like this story don’t hesitate to share.
~~~~~*~~~~~