A Little Pencil

I find that I often see spiritual significance in ordinary, everyday things. I'm not quite sure why. Perhaps it has to do with years of Sunday School object lessons. Whatever the reason may be, I recently noticed something interesting in Mr. Proulx's E11 Classroom Expectations. It has to do with pencils.

I'll quote directly from the classroom rules and procedures: "Pencils - It is the nature of pencil lead to dull with constant use. You should expect your pencils (whether mechanical or other) to require your responsible attention throughout this course. Sharpening a pencil, or undertaking a quest for appropriate sized lead during class is inconsiderate and demonstrates a failure to prepare for the classroom. Sharpening your pencil should be accomplished before the bell rings."

Mother Theresa once said, "I am a little pencil in the hand of a writing God who is sending a love letter to the world." I would suggest that the same is true of you and me if we have entrusted our lives into God's hands and asked him to use us. So then, how can we stay sharp and ready to be used?

I think the answer can be found in becoming very familiar with the pencil sharpener. Being held in God's hands is not always about 'writing'. Sometimes it's about 'sharpening'. God knows that for us to write well, we need to be sharpened regularly. So, when we read God's Word, he sharpens us. When we pray and listen for his response, he sharpens us. When we meet together and worship with other believers, he sharpens us. When we share our faith story with others, he sharpens us. When we trust God in spite of our difficult circumstances, he sharpens us.

Have you noticed that after a pencil is sharpened, the pencil is smaller? That's how it should be with us. Just as John the Baptist said in John 3:30, "He must become greater. I must become less." After all, it's not really about the pencil, it's about the sharpener... it's about the writer.

Lord, I may be just a plain old yellow No. 2 pencil, but I believe that in your hands even I can be used to accomplish great things. I pray that you will always be able to find me sharpened and ready for your use. Use me to write a letter to those who need to know your love. Use me as you choose. Use me for your glory.