In olden times, when a good sword was made, the sword smith first thrust the rough metal into a hot fire.  When it had become heated to the point of softening, he withdrew the metal, hammered on it while it remained hot, then thrust it into cold water.  This process was repeated over and over, until the raw material had been forged into a beautiful, powerful sword.

The same process can be applied to our own lives.  Many people have asked me why such things had to happen.  Those who have accomplished truly great things have often suffered unusual hardships.  The spiritual explanation is that the greater a person's mission is to be, the harder are the trials one must go through first.