On the crucible of life and love

Thinking about the analogy of the crucible of life's experiences. As C' said melting and living through the crucible allows you to become: resilient and hardened enough to handle life's embrace, soft and flexible to yield as need be, and purified and released from the pain and the impurities that prevent you from expansion.

But what if you fear this expansion, growth, and pruning. Well the answer comes best from Khalil Gibran in his chapter on Love in the book the Prophet. Here is a quote that says it well:

But if in 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 your laughter, and weep but not all your tears.