InSpiritry Question for the Day: May 21, 2009
When you are the anvil, bear;
when you are the hammer, strike.”
Edwin Markham
“The nail that sticks up gets hammered down.”
Japanese proverb
“While the hammer drives the nail,
it is the nail that finds its way into the wood.”
As we work together to solve dilemmas in our families, our places of work and even our world, things go best when we each have a role to play. What an interesting metaphor develops if we think of ourselves as items in a woodshed. Hammer, anvil, nail –each type of tool and person serves a purpose. Though our social roles change in different circumstances with a little more flexibility than an iron tool, because of our natural abilities, we frequently tend to choose (or be given) one kind of responsibility or another! Those who are anvils take the pounding of day-to-day forces; they bear up, never waiver, are dependable and quietly forge strength in the rest of us. Those who are hammers drive others to do better; they are the force behind change and they give themselves to the task of motivating others to do well. Those who are nails are on the front lines. They are sharp and smart and strong enough to find a way forward; though they may need to be sharpened on the anvil or pushed by the hammer, they hold things together and get the job done. To best solve problems and take advantage of opportunities, we need all kinds of tools and all kinds of people…all kinds of people working together!
InSpiritry Question for the Day:
Which are you — a hammer, an anvil or a nail?
When We Value Each Person’s Role as We Work Together, We Can Be a Blessing!
Join the InSpiritry Conversation about this post! Add Your Comment
Learn more about InSpiritry and Anne McCrady, subscribe to InSpiritry Emails or Contact Anne.
Also see Anne’s latest article at The InSpiritry Times online news source!
Trackback Address for This Posting: http://www.inspiritry.com/wordpress/2009/21/05/question-for-the-day-may-21-2009/
