That’s a proverb from the Maori, the indigenous people of Aotearoa/New Zealand. I’ve often referred to it over the years.
It seems to mean that the process of finding out who you really are includes a lot of giving up. If you’re a tree and being carved at the same time, well, you can expect it to hurt a bit at times. That means you can expect it to keep on hurting for some time.
Traditional Maori were known for their elaborate facial tattoos. As they lived their experiences the tattoos would be periodically added to to update their stories. Genuine bone chisels, no anaesthetic, genuine pain. Those who met them would know them by reading the stories that had been carved into their faces.
Live the life, become the story which will later be told. Your reward for doing your best will be a passage through pain, but by then it may not be the kind of pain you initially expected.
Make your right choice. ‘Trust the physician, and drink his remedy in silence and tranquillity. For his hand, though heavy and hard, is guided by the tender hand of the unseen… ‘ (Gibran, The Prophet).
It occurrd to me that the kind of suffering needed to get to heaven was my responsibility.
The rats which had come out to hear my speech applauded before running off as usual.
What a thought-provoking lesson, to give up part of ourselves and the pain it includes. I have been thinking on this as well. Thank you for your writing!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Julie 🙂 I’m grateful for the words that just appear and the people who understand.
LikeLiked by 1 person
George,
Your blog was very informative and interesting. I liked the line that you said about ” live the life, become the story, which will later be told.” Also making the right choice. All these thoughts really got my mind thinking, so thanks so much.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Eulaine 🙂 Having written it, now to live by it !
LikeLiked by 1 person
You must be a professional blogger. I am one of the rats that came out to hear your speech, I am applauding, however I not running off as usual. I found your blog very thought provoking and insightful. Thank you!
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you James 🙂
This has been my first blog though I’ve always it seems been able to write. The stress of doing the course triggers what I’m writing. and I’m happy if it helps at all.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thank you for this very interesting point of view. I really like the title.
LikeLiked by 2 people
Thanks Jacqui 🙂
The saying means a lot to me, though oddly for a long time I haven’t known just what. More wood keeps turning out to be sapwood than I’d expected.
LikeLiked by 1 person