Once upon a time, a carpenter named Thomas lived in a quaint little village nestled among the rolling hills. Thomas was known far and wide for his exceptional carpentry skills and dedication to his craft. However, one thing marred his otherwise impeccable reputation—his old, blunt saw. Thomas had used the same saw for as long as anyone could remember. It had served him well over the years, but now it had become dull and inefficient. Despite the urging of his fellow villagers to get a new saw, Thomas refused to believe that his trusty tool was no longer up to the task.
“No, no, this saw has been with me through thick and thin. It has cut through countless pieces of wood and helped me create masterpieces. It can’t be dull,”
Thomas would say whenever someone mentioned getting a new saw. The villagers tried to reason with Thomas, showing him how much faster and smoother a sharp saw could cut, but he remained stubborn. He struggled with his old saw, spending twice as much time on each project and producing work far from his usual standard.
One day, a renowned carpenter from a neighbouring village visited Thomas’s workshop. Impressed by Thomas’s skill but dismayed by the state of his saw, the carpenter offered to sharpen it for him. Thomas hesitated initially but eventually agreed to let the carpenter work his magic. When the carpenter returned the saw to Thomas, it gleamed in the sunlight, its blade sharp and ready for action. Thomas was amazed at how effortlessly it cut through wood, making his work easier and more precise than ever before. From that day on, Thomas’s resistance crumbled. He saw the error of his ways and realized that sometimes, even the most trusted tools must be replaced or repaired. He thanked the visiting carpenter and vowed never to let his pride stop progress again. And so, with his newly sharpened saw in hand, Thomas continued to create beautiful pieces of furniture and earn the admiration of all who saw his work. The tale of the carpenter with the blunt saw became a cautionary story in the village, reminding everyone that sometimes, it’s okay to let go of the old and embrace the new.
Lazarus Carpenter - Author 