As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.
Proverbs 27:17 nlt
I’ll never forget the first time I saw some of the men in the Jamamadi village sharpening their machetes and axes. They had a special stone which was well worn from much use. This stone had the best cutting qualities of any of the sharpening stones I have seen manufactured here in the industrial society we live in. Just a few well appointed licks with this stone, and it was razor sharp, ready to chop down trees. I was helping them clear their fields for their crops for the next three years. They would chop halfway through all the smaller trees within the range of a large tree they wanted to cut down (sorry - all you greenies out there, but slash/burn agriculture is the way of life for thousands of years for these people - and their impact is small compared to the massive destruction of the rainforest by machines) then they would chop down the big tree. It would fall; taking down a huge section of trees, vines and underbrush like a stack of dominos. Those guys knew how to chop. When I was nineteen in Colombia, I once saw a man chop down a two ft. diameter hardwood tree using only a machete. The secret is to have a sharp cutting instrument, and a good aim. They would stop about every fifteen minutes or so to sharpen their tools. That was good, as it also gave them an opportunity to rest in the hot humid tropical climate.
I thought I could help them get their fields cleared faster using my chainsaw, but sometimes they could chop down a tree about as fast as I could with my chainsaw. One day I started in helping them, and they told me to quit. “You might make the tree fall too soon before we are ready.” So I let them do the work while I observed. Until they came to a large tree which was hollow and full of bees. Every time they would strike the trunk with the ax the enraged bees would come out of their hive to attack. That’s when they called me over with my chainsaw. “Here Hikado (that’s my name in their language) you cut this one down!” “Gee thanks!” I thought. But the high frequency vibrations of the chainsaw was less agravating to the bees and I got stung only a few times. They had prepared the area where the tree was to fall, but my aim was off slightly and the tree fell into the branches of two other large trees forming a huge teepee like structure - very dangerous, and difficult to cut down without all three large (150-200 ft high) trees coming down on top of your head. And the bees were angrily swarming around the tree I had cut. One man studied the problem for a while, then went over and chopped one or two large vines the size of Arnold’s (the governator)arm, and the whole mess came crashing down amidst the cheers of all the indians.
This story illustrates several things I would like to point out. First of all, a big challenge requires sharp tools. “As iron sharpens iron, a friend sharpens a friend.” We can sharpen our tools by the company we keep. If we hang around people who are constantly dragging us down, we become dull ourselves. So climb into the back pocket of someone whom you would like to emulate and learn from him - have a mentor.
Secondly, a big challenge requires a focused effort. Sadly, even after 35 years living in the Amazon, I have a poor aim when it comes to chopping! What took the indians three whacks to cut through, usually took me about 20. If your aim is good, and you know where to strike, then your effectiveness to solve the problem is greater.
Thirdly, it is often one simple thing which if resolved will bring the whole jungle crashing down, but if done improperly might bring it down on top of your head. It helps to study the problem, and pray and seek the Lord’s guidance before deciding exactly where to chop.
Finally, I was always interested in those stones because I have always been a connoisseur of fine sharpening stones, and there were not any stones like these around wherever I looked. The indians always told me they got them somewhere up river, but whenever I made excursions way up into the headwaters of rivers I did not find any. It remains a mystery to me today. The moral of this is that you can’t always find the perfect stone to sharpen you - but don’t let that keep you from being sharpened by the stones that are available to you.
Blessings!
Rick Reece
