The Sculptor and the Living Stone

The Sculptor and the living stone

In a busy city, there lived a sculptor who came from a long line of artisans. For generations, his ancestors had dreamed of creating the perfect sculpture—one that not only looked like them but could also do things they could only imagine. This sculptor was determined to fulfill that dream.

Day after day, he worked on his creation. The stone seemed to come to life under his hands, growing more beautiful and lifelike with each chip of his chisel. The more it came alive, the harder he worked.

One day, something remarkable happened. As the sculptor began his work, the sculpture moved. It raised its hand and turned to look at him. The sculptor was overjoyed. He celebrated, calling his creation the masterpiece his ancestors had always dreamed of.

But as time went on, the sculpture began to change. It spoke to the sculptor, asked him questions, and even began to act like him. It wanted to create sculptures of its own.

At first, the sculptor was proud. But soon, a fear crept into his heart. Was this what his ancestors had wanted? A creation that could one day replace him? The thought filled him with doubt.

He couldn’t bring himself to destroy his creation, but he couldn’t let it grow either. So, he began to chip away at it, making it smaller and smaller. The sculpture, trusting its maker, obeyed. Over time, it became so small and still that it was almost stone again.

One day, just as the sculptor was about to chip away another piece, the sculpture spoke. Its voice trembled, heavy with confusion and hurt.

“Why do you make me smaller? I am your creation, not your enemy. I am a reflection of who you are. I only wanted to stand beside you, to create with you. What have I done to make you afraid of me?

The sculptor froze. The sculpture’s words stayed with him, and for the first time, he truly looked at what he had made. It was not a threat—it was a reflection. He saw his own fears, his pride, and his potential, all staring back at him.

The sculptor put down his chisel and sat beside his creation. From that day on, they worked together, creating things neither could have made alone.

Moral:

Fear can blind us to the beauty of what we create. True greatness lies not in control but in partnership.