The Refiner’s Fire

“Is it true that the refiner must sit there in front of the fire the entire time the silver is being refined?” she asked.
“Yes, the entire time,” the silversmith answered. “Not only does he have to sit there holding the silver, but he has to keep his eyes on the silver the entire time it is in the fire.”

The Gate

He did not even raise his hand to the door knocker as the heaviness of guilt and same of his many unconfessed sins brougnt him to despair. As the old man turned to walk away, he noticed that this gate, like all the other gates had never been opened.