Toughness and Hardness
Like peanut butter, peanuts, the crunchiness folded into the creamy texture of the “butter”, toughness and hardness behave and compliment each other the same way. Though increasing hardness sometimes will result in a loss of toughness, it’s always idealistic to have both equally strong in a material. (Peanuts shouldn’t be too overpowering, the “butter” should not just have a monotonous smooth texture). In the face of activities like chipping, hardness is, as a matter of fact required in the material of cutting tools. However, as much as being able to hold up against abrasive wear, a material needs to be able to conform and locally deform as to accommodate changes in a way that does not interrupt the activity viz. cutting. This is where toughness comes into place.
Well, given the revelation of this, deconstructing the knowledge and applying to real-life, it pretty much means standing firm on your principles (hard) but be flexible with your reactions towards the situations in life (tough). It’s important to build a strong foundation that one could constantly come back and refer to. Question the beliefs and concepts, get a clearer understanding and defense and erode the wrong ones till you’re fully convinced of what you’re holding up against the common trend. In this case for me is to build my foundation upon the living water, the word of God and cement it with my relationship with God.
We’re called to be in the world but not of the world. 1 Peter 3:15 – But in your hearts revere Christ as Lord. Always be prepared to give an answer to everyone who asks you to give the reason for the hope that you have. But do this with gentleness and respect”. Toughness applies here to the last part of the verse. To be able to do this, we have to first understand the situation, the people involved in this case while bringing across our stance. Wisdom is the epoxy of a life after the cross and lives before the cross. Just like in MS, it’s hard to have both toughness and hardness to the extreme, this is a skill that is only to be acquired prayerfully and at the pursuit of God’s heart.
Recrystallization
Theory:
Recrystallization, the way i’ve understood it, is a process of rebuilding the crystal of the solid. In plain words, it is rebuilding its shape(microscopically) which means altering its current attained grain size/shape. Depending on the deformation and work applied(stress undergone), the grains vary, but mostly have primitive hexagonal shape. Specimens that have undergone more drastic plastic deformation also have larger strive to recrystallize.
Mounting:
Currently I have been asking the question: Somethings in my life have gone haywire way before i realize i’ve stepped into sinking ground. Is it going to parch the rest of my life? Can i even undo things or at least recover back to the state way before i maim these areas of my life?
Today i was in Material Science lecture and it hit me. God answered:yes, and I could make you brand new again even way better than before you endured the chagrin. Or, in a more unequivocal way of saying this-yield and lead a sinful life. It seems impossible to be untainted like before, let alone be even more pristine. Yet, the myth buster is in recrystallisation. A specimen has to be subjected to severe plastic deformation(of course before it reaches its tensile strength), with increasing dislocation denstiy in the process and lastly at its exhaustion, it would endeavour to recrystallize. Like the Israelites or everyone else, when they are at their wits’ end, consumed of energy, strained physically and mentally, they would run to God. At the end, they learn from their mistakes, they learn that there is no other place better than being with God. This is a lesson i need to learn and i need to recrystallize because i am plastically deformed and i long for the fine crystalline structure that so many other Christians have, purpose driven life, life full of abundance. The most amazing thing is when God reforms me, He doesn’t leave a trace, or a scar to remind me constantly of my past wrong doing. Like the way recrystallization gives a chance for metal to be “reborn” in the grain size and shape in which they are refined. In their new crystall form, they are newly identified, with different mechanical properties where their old crystal form is completely beyond recognition from their new look. I long to be like this. Oh Lord, this is my prayer, to be recrystallize, to be identified with a new name in Your eyes(that defines my character), to be an art, the magnificent, perfect feature of fine crystal. Only possible when You fashion me.
