The biblical account of the floating axehead demonstrates that even the seemingly smallest snapshots in Scripture contain profound wisdom for how we live today. When we intentionally cast aside the hollow values of materialism, status-seeking, and self-absorption, we create space for the miraculous restoration of what truly matters: purpose, integrity, compassion, and genuine connection.
That casting aside of hollow things, though, is harder than it appears. There is always pressure to succeed, to stand out, to be seen, to be heard. The buzz keeps buzzing, and we – all the while – find ourselves unconsciously caught up in its continued hum.
Mostly, we believe we are sharpest when we are tooled for ascendancy in our disciplines, workspaces, and callings. And the applause is loud. But that is, in fact, when we are most at risk of losing our true edge – which is our purpose and character. Our talents, bravado, ingenuity, and skills get us to the center of the action. But our character keeps us there. Herein lies the dilemma: which is the edge to keep and the one not to lose? None. We must keep the axehead sharpened, but we must also keep it hinged to the handle, otherwise, the music stops and what we are building stops before it is even completed.
I think for talented folks, the key challenge is keeping the axehead on the handle. For naive but grounded folks, the challenge always revolves around being able to keep the axehead sharp. The axehead alone, without the handle, can’t swivel with enough force to cut a tree, and the handle, without the axehead, lacks the cutting edge to fell the tree.
This story, though, is about character. We are not told the axe lost its edge, but we are told the axehead flew off the handle. Talent is phenomenal, and we must keep sharpening it. As it is, there is no standing in the palace before the King without some sort of gift being upon a man. Yet, character is also key. Who we are, and how do we act when the axe is sharp and the trees are all coming down and making way? More importantly, how do we ensure we never fly off the handle and get lost in the buzz of our success?
When our axehead flies off the handle, like the young prophet, we need to immediately recognize the loss. We must first acknowledge what essential values we’ve lost in our haste to success. Have we lost our sense of purpose? Our integrity? Our authentic connections with others? Our peace of mind?
The young prophet didn’t hide his mistake or try to replace the axehead secretly. He acknowledged his predicament to Elisha. Likewise, true balance begins when we honestly confront our shortcomings and seek guidance from those wiser than ourselves.
Finally, we must walk our way back to the center of the values that keep us at the forefront, by picking up those values again. Not mouthing them or grandstanding, but actually putting in place a lifestyle and regimen that puts those values front and center.
In the end, our lasting impact depends not just on how sharp our talents are, but on how securely they remain connected to the core values that give meaning to our work and worth to our lives.