Glass Sculpting

The strain and stress of this life can seem unbearable at times. Sometimes one can feel like their being pulled in opposite directions, or like there’s not enough time in the day to get anything accomplished, or worse yet, to know there are a million things to do, and not know where to start.

There are times when it feels like nothing can go right, or that everything seems to be falling apart. What do you do in those moments? Unfortunately, there isn’t much you can do other than to be aware that what is happening is a perfectly normal part of life.

I’m the kind of person who likes to believe that the difficult moments in life create the most growth. In other words, if something is hard, or if times are hard, then the best thing to do is to roll with the punches and get stronger in the process.

I like to say that each of us are like glass sculptures being molded by the sculptor that is life. For those of you who are not familiar with glass sculpting, it’s quite amazing. But, to be honest, quite brutal.

Much like the glass, each of us start out as crude lumps of discombobulated materials. At this point, the intent of our journey is unknown, but what is known, is that in order to reach our full potential, a significant amount of trauma awaits us along the way.

Much of the sculpting process for glass requires fire and brutality. For the materials to reach a consistency that allows for it to be molded, those materials are subjected to enormous amounts of heat and stress. The sculptor removes it from the fire, pulls it, pushes it, twists it, pressurizes it with air, then back into the fire it goes. This process is repeated several times, until eventually, the glass begins to take shape. The sculptor is persistent, and ultimately, the glass gives way, and lends itself the creativity of the artist.

Much in the same way, and just as important, we need to realize how hard life is, and that life is a process. And not an easy process, either. It’s full of ups and downs, highs and lows, good times and bad times, too. But it’s all part of a plan.

Whether you’re a person of faith, or not, the fact is, life has a funny way of working out. Once again, like sculpting glass, it’s not the kind of thing that can be figured out in a matter of seconds. It takes time and patience. Nonetheless, it always manages to find a way to work itself out.

One thing to keep in mind, however. When it comes to an artform such as sculpting, if the intent is to make a masterpiece, cutting corners is never an option. Speeding up the process can create deformities, or other defects that can’t be reversed, so its important to be patient and resolute. The same goes for the life process, as well. There is no such thing as quick and easy when attempting to create a life one can be proud of. If something is too good to be true…it usually is. Doing the right thing is never easy.

In the end, life can be difficult at times. Almost unbearable, but it’s important to remember that life is supposed to be that way. If you are working hard, doing what’s right, and basically living in the moment when the bad times happen, then you’re allowing yourself to be molded. Life is getting ready to create something very special within you, and its going to something you can be proud of. But you must allow yourself to realize that that is what is happening.

You are being shaped. You are being stretched. You are being polished. And in the end, when it’s all said and done, the life that you will be left with will be the kind of art that you can admire. Best of all, something to be admired for many generations after you’ve departed this world.