From "The Prophet"

"Like sheaves of corn he gathers you unto himself.
He threshes you to make you naked.
He sifts you to free you from your husks.
He grinds you to whiteness.
He kneads you until you are pliant;
And then he assigns you to his sacred fire,
that you may become sacred bread for God's sacred feast.


All these things shall love do unto you that you may
know the secrets of your heart, and in that knowledge
become a fragment of Life's heart.


But if in your fear you would seek only love's peace and
love's pleasure, then it is better for you that you cover
your nakedness and pass out of love's threshing floor,


Into the seasonless world where you shall laugh,
but not all of your laughter, and weep, but not all of your tears."


~Kahlil Gibran
The Prophet