sharpen our axe - Short Story

sharpen our axe - Short Story


Once upon a time a very strong woodcutter asked for a job to a timber merchant,and he got it. The pay was really good and so were the working conditions. For that reason, the woodcutter was determined to do his best. His boss gave him an axe and showed him the area where he was supposed to work. The first day, the woodcutter brought 18 trees "Congratulations," the boss said. "Carry on that way!".

Very motivated with the boss's words, the woodcutter tried harder the next day, but he could bring only 15 trees. The third day he tried even harder, but could bring 10 trees
only. 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. "When was 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 more trees for you.

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.

Why is that? Could it be that we have forgotten how to tay sharp? There's nothing wrong with activity and hard work. We are so busy that we neglect the truly important things in life, like taking time to read, to exercise, to care for personal life, to pray etc. We all need time to
relax, to think and meditate, to learn and grow.
If we don't take time to "sharpen our axe", then we will all become dull and lose our effectiveness.