Daily Archive for April 21 2018
ADVENTURE IN ROOFING
Industrial building; 3 stories high; steep roof; installing Mexican tile roof. The pitch of the roof so steep we had to wear parachute harnesses tied to a rope, with a “friend” holding onto the rope at the top of the roof ridge. No movement could be made without that rope pulling or releasing my body to get in position. Nerve-racking at first , but after a while, it was like a ballroom dance in its coordination.
At lunch we were supposed to switch places. My friend had never roofed so I ask him to sit on the roof all day and hold the line tight as I moved about. Also, it seemed reasonable, since he weighted 220 lbs. and I was about 160 lbs. Got the picture?
What did I think was the most important thing to do before we started? Get to know this person. He was holding my life in his hands.
We talked 20 minutes before work, then at break, then ate together at lunch, and even talked after work. My original motive? I want to be nice to him because so much depended on it, from my point of view.
An odd thing happened, however, by the time the job was completed. We really liked each other. Go figure. At that point I was a little ashamed of my original motive. This guy was worth knowing, no matter what he could do for me.
I think we treat God like that at times. Is God just a means to an end, or is He worth getting to know no matter how much or how little he may do for me?
Perhaps as we grow we can take the path of good children and move from what we thought was love, to real love, that only an adult child can give. He holds our lives in His hands but He never threatens with that. He keeps loving us because He cannot help Himself. I John 4:19 JWP