1.3 The Refiner's Edge

A Willing Heart

When monks enter the monastery, they don’t arrive polished.
They arrive “willing”.

Willing to be shaped.
Willing to be stretched.
Willing to be quiet enough to hear God speak.

That same willingness is something I learned not in a monastery, but in a round pen—while training horses. I spent years as a horse trainer and judge, and during that time, I witnessed something beautiful: a horse doesn’t respond best to force. It responds to presence. To gentleness. To trust.

You don’t “break” a good horse into obedience. You build a bond that leads to cooperation. You teach it to read your cues, to relax under your guidance, to find safety in your nearness. And over time, what once seemed wild becomes responsive. Not because it was pressured—but because it was seen and respected.

That’s what The Refiner's Edge is about.

It’s about simply showing up with a heart that says:

"Lord, I’m willing. Shape me. Teach me. Use me."

The world celebrates performance. But the Kingdom celebrates perseverance, and sacrificial love.

Maybe you're feeling the call to grow, but you're not sure where to start. Maybe your soul is tired of resting in overdrive and is longing instead to find relationship. Maybe the edges of your life have felt sharp, uncomfortable, unfinished.

Good. That’s where formation happens.

The Refiner doesn’t begin with those who are qualified. He begins with those who are available.

You don’t have to be perfect. You don’t have to be ready. You just have to be willing.

Let The Refiner's Edge be a place where formation begins—gently, honestly, and one step at a time.

If you enjoy these newsletters, let me know in the comments. If you want to go deeper, The Refiner’s Edge is an invitation to enter the round pen! If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact me directly at alwaystowardthelight@icloud.com, or visit us by clicking on the link below.