I saw this quote from Alexis Carrell on Facebook recently that caused me to ponder it for much longer than normal. At first glance, the quote indicates man must endure hardship, pain, and suffering before they can heal. On the other hand, it begs the question: Why do we need to break ourselves down to improve?
“Man cannot remake himself without suffering, for he is both the marble and the sculptor.”
–French surgeon, biologist and Noble Prize winner, Alexis Carrel (1873-1944)
According to this post at Elevate Society, Carrell emphasizes that personal growth and transformation often comes at a cost. The metaphor of being both the marble and the sculptor suggests that we possess the raw material and the tools necessary to shape ourselves. Just as a sculptor must chisel away at the marble, Carrell suggests we must also face the pain and struggle that comes with self-improvement.
The Heart of The Issue
My first thoughts about the quote brought to mind some famous statues like The Venus de Milo (believed to be of Aphrodite, the Greek goddess of love), The Pieta (a life-size sculpture of Mary cradling an adult Jesus in her arms in St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome), or Michelangelo’s David (the 8’ tall sculpture housed in the Accademia Gallery of Florence, Italy). These elaborate sculptures required the artist to carefully chip away parts of the raw piece of marble to transform the stone into a beautiful masterpiece.
A deeper look at the photo though shows the muscular sculptor about to chisel away at the weaker-looking man’s chest right where his heart is located. It’s a subtle reminder that most personal transformation requires a change of heart. Transformation may require changing your sinful behaviors and bad habits. It may come through a change on beliefs or overcoming personal obstacles. Sometimes, even changing your environment, such as a big career move, marriage (or divorce), or relocating to another part of the country, is difficult.
Change Can Be Painful
In one sense, most types of change are painful. But a transformation of your heart may be the most difficult of all. Just like heart surgery, it can be painful and comes with a lot of discomfort.
In another sense, I’m not sure we can be both the marble and the sculptor as Carrell suggests. Sure, we may be the cause of our own pain and suffering. There may also be obstacles to overcome or suffering to endure. But sometimes a painful change is needed to improve a undesirable situation. I guess the quote and photo implies we must ensure the painful process of working on ourselves.
God is The Ultimate Artist
The good news is that Scripture reminds us that God is the artist and creator of our lives. Psalm 139 says, “For it was you who formed me in my inward parts, you knit me together in my mother’s womb”.
God is the ultimate sculptor, but He is not one limited to granite or marble. Isaiah 64:8 says, “Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” We can be molded if we are willing.
God also forms our character. He can take a raw human being and chisel away our flaws until we reflect His image. Ephesians 2:10 says, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus”. In this verse, “workmanship” means we are His work of art or “masterpiece”. God created and molds us like clay into his masterpiece.
Get Another View
Even the best artists need to step back and look at their work-in-process. The same goes for checking the progress of your own life and whether change in needed. Be honest with yourself. What changes do you need to make in your life? Do you have any rough edges that still need chiseling?
God’s desire is that we are willing to be molded and changed to be more like His Son, Jesus Christ. He knows our heart and wants us to step back and check our progress.
It also helps to have another good friend or GodBuddy give their assessment as you work on yourself. You may not see your imperfections or flaws but your GodBuddy likely does. With God’s help, you can begin to chisel away at your sinful heart to make it more pure and righteous. It may come with some pain and suffering but always remember, you are God’s masterpiece in the making.
Wisdom for Men is based on my opinions on topics that help men become better men. The sources used for these posts are not fact-checked, but support my theory that men are better with deeper, more authentic friendships. My GodBuddy theory is based on biblical principles but applies to all men, regardless of their beliefs. Better friendships among men will help solve the crisis of male friendships and many of today’s problems… because the world needs better men!
