Carved by Life: Nurturing Joy in the Potter’s Hands
The deeper that sorrow carves into your being, the more joy you can contain. Is not the cup that holds your wine the very cup that was burned in the potter’s oven? And is not the lute that soothes your spirit, the very wood that was hollowed with knives? When you are joyous, look deep into your heart and you shall find it is only that which has given you sorrow that is giving you joy. When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see in truth that you are weeping for that which has been your delight. –Kahlil Gibran
Kahlil Gibran’s wise words teach us that when we feel sadness, it’s like life carving and shaping us, just as a potter molds clay or a craftsman carves a lute. He says that the tough times, like a cup made in a hot oven, dig deep into who we are. Gibran believes that the things that make us sad also hold the potential for great happiness.
In moments of joy, he encourages us to look back at the tough times and realize that the same things that made us sad in the past are now giving us happiness. It’s a beautiful way of thinking about how joy and sorrow are connected in our lives.
