Tink, tink, tink tink, Boom, Boom!

A rhythmic percussion of hammer to copper is heard over sounds of laughter and conversations.

Metal heated then pounded into a creation of purpose.  The instructor with a long white beard and cowboy hat is holding with tongs the metal, glowing orange and red from the white-hot fire at his back.

Onto the anvil with a loud clank, goes the glowing metal.

His other hand holds the hammer and the pounding begins.  This cycle continues as the metal slowly submits to the blacksmith’s vision.

I walk across the field to see other projects being taught to families. The crunch of summer grass reminds me of how hot the summer has been.  No rain to cool down and refresh the carpet once green leaves it flat and lifeless.

A man is teaching how to make copper roses.  I take a seat and begin to learn.  The pattern has been determined and cut before I arrive.  My job is to bring life to the flat lifeless copper.

It is made in layers.  Each layer must be texturized, pounding the delicate look of veins into the hard metal petals of the rose.

I pound for hours, using my right arm to exhaustion, then the left, and then alternating.

Hours later the veins are in the petals and assembling can begin.

The layers are scattered across the table looking more like chaos than a rose.

The base is heated red hot, and the layers are pierced one at the time and plunged onto the base.  Molten solder is added to keep it in place.

Soon the appearance of a rose appears.  Once assembled the petals are curled and rolled giving the illusion of a delicate rose.

After the metal is hammer it is  “work-hard”.  No matter what you do, you cannot make the metal return to its original state.  Trying to do so will destroy what the metal has become.

Here is the very simple lesson from all of this.  Once you have had an encounter with the living God, the risen Christ, you are forever changed.  And though He may allow you to walk through parts of life that make you feel like you are having the ever-lovin-life beat out of you, its effect will cause you to become something of great beauty. 

I’ve often heard women say, “Beauty is pain”; perhaps there is a spiritual truth there.

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you, as though something strange were happening to you.  But rejoice inasmuch as you participate in the sufferings of Christ, so that you may be overjoyed when his glory is revealed. 1 Peter 4:12-13

Part of His glory revealed, is Christ in you.  Let’s allow the fiery ordeals to bring forth His perfect will and the fragrance of Christ to the world.

Linking today with Shanda at On Your Heart Tuesday and Deep Roots at Home.

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Diane W. Bailey

Diane W. Bailey is the founder of The Consilium – an online community of wisdom and purpose for women over 45 years of age. She is a published author. Her books include String of Pearls – From Tears to Treasure, and 30 Days To A Better Stepfamily. She creates her own line of precious metals bracelets. Diane lives in the Deep South with her husband Doc. Together they have created a stepfamily, each having two stepchildren and two birth children, and share three grandchildren, one black lab named Charlie and one long haired tabby cat named Lil Girl. Diane’s passion is to encourage women to be all God has created them to be by pressing past fear and daring to live life as an adventure. Some of her life adventures include traveling to Israel, speaking, entrepreneurship and backyard farming with Doc. She loves Gumbo, fried shrimp and seeing all sunsets across water.

Latest posts by Diane W. Bailey (see all)

• What God Can Do with A Shattered Heart - September 5, 2022
• When It Is Time to Bring Your Ship Ashore - January 2, 2018
• Art Of Hospitality – How to Love Others As Ourselves - November 27, 2017

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