Is it a loss or a sacrifice?

Dear Visionaries,

"You see, development is like metal work. Once the smith heats the metal, he can mold it and shape it however he likes. And if it doesn’t turn out the way he likes, he can throw it back to the fire and try again.

As long as he has time, he can make a new shape with the same exact material.

But becoming new, this is like stone work. Once the stone mason makes the first cut, there's a certain finality to it. It triggers an inevitable series of events, where each cut is imprisoned by the previous."

An esteemed member of our community commented on the latest edition, "The fate of the chosen stone.", in response to the quote above with a valuable contribution.

I'd like to it share with you all.

Poignant analogy! The inevitability of “becoming new” after our first stone cuts feels like a harsh reality. On the other hand, if we think of it as polishing down our rough edges to reveal the beauty and strength within, it becomes a process of transformation rather than loss.

Here's my response.

Interesting! I think you're touching on the core tension of the message.

Transformation can certainly feel like a loss but I would ask you to challenge that framing. That first cut that takes you down the inevitable path, is it loss or is it sacrifice? I would argue the latter.

In my view, a sacrifice is not a loss but an offering--a willing exchange, out with the old and in with the new. When you willingly accept the inevitability of that first cut, you are made new in that instant--no process, no time.

What happens after, the smoothing, finishing, and polishing is certainly what reveals the beauty and strength of that critical moment. But how could you polish without making that first cut?

If you feel compelled, please let me know what you think in the comments!

Talk soon,

Darren K.