Masters

I had learned all that I could from my existing teachers.  There was more of course, but it was all at the edges.  I understood the heart of their teachings.  I grasped the fine print.  I could sense where they were headed.  I knew I could teach others, an on occasion I did.  My situation was the same as many in very different paths.  I had become a new master of my graft.
 
Metaphorically I was the same as those who have grasp the god thing.  “They tell their spiritual leaders, ‘Don't bother us with irrelevancies.’  They tell their preachers, ‘Don't waste our time on impracticalities.  Tell us what makes us feel better.  Don't bore us with obsolete religion.  That stuff means nothing to us.  Quit hounding us with The Holy of Israel.’”  (Isaiah 30.10, 11)  We know what we are doing.  Just leave us alone.
 
I acted as if I knew what I was doing.  I even sounded as if I was informed, educated, and at the top of my game. 
 
In my heart of hearts I knew there was more.  There must be more.
 
Cherry gave me the gift of a day’s instruction from a Master Wood Turner.  In arranging our dairies I asked what I should bring.  The instructions were simple; bring examples of your work and as many of your tools (scrapers and gouges) that can be easily carried.
 
At the appointed time I arrived with a bucket full of tools and the best of my recent work.  The review was short, casual, and without criticism.
 
“I have one question.  What do you want from our time today?”
 
“I want to learn.  I want to be better than I am.”
 
“Do you really want to learn?  Will you trust me?”
 
What followed opened me up to a way of woodturning with more potential than I ever imagined.  As I finished setting up my new shop I keep asking myself the questions.  Do I want to learn?  Am I willing to change?  Do I trust Divinity’s Spirit? 
 
The questions are mine and yours.