As a kid of the late fifties and the sixties, I saw suburban growth that
had never existed before. In the woods where we once played and pretended, now
bulldozers had cleared them away and new houses were springing up. We weren’t
allowed on these building sites during the day, but would watch from a safe
distance, dictated by carpenters telling us to back off for our own good, and
mesmerized by the building process. But while watching from the safety of the
seat of our Schwinns, our minds were going full speed, we would build too. We
would go and scout out an area where there were still woods to play in, then
begin the process of finding the properly aligned trees to build the tree forts
of our dreams. We were the architects, the contractors, the masons and
carpenters, we drove the bulldozers and backhoes, at least in our own minds.
But after the workers went home, all the rules changed.....
We never thought of it as stealing, we only took the scraps and scoured the
ground for nails before our shoes found them, gathering up enough frees supplies
to build our forts. Rickety and unstable at first, we soon learned some
construction techniques, and would scrape enough money together to buy some
2x4’s, and our construction and forts soon showed great improvement. We
observed, we copied, we watched some more, and through experience we got
better. But the key was the free wood and nails we built them from, all we had
to do was supply the labor, which was free too, as we couldn’t charge for it,
and had plenty of time during summer vacation. But it seemed that as soon as we
built the better fort, along came a surveying crew with sticks and paint marking
off where the new homes would be, and our forts would be expendable. We learned
a lot of lessons in watching, building, rebuilding, and obtaining parts and
planning. Looking back it was our kid’s intuitions and desires that drove us,
never heard of a class in school on fort building or how to source scraps of
wood and nails, but we learned more by doing than we could from a book. It was
hands on, and along the way we learned of mercurichrome from stepping on nails,
the importance of hard soled shoes, how to miss the thumb when hammering and
measuring both the inside and the outside distances before nailing. We learned
as we go, without slide rule or computer, we built our forts to last. And they
often did, until the next bulldozers arrived....
Although our parents cast a wary eye towards our building, no one ever got
hurt, no eyes got poked out, the worst I remember was sore thumbs from poor
aiming. Which you cleverly hid from your mother at dinner time. We went out
each morning excited, worked and sweated all day, “just playing” if you asked,
and went home at night all sweaty, dirty, filthy, and wiped out, sleeping well,
so we could get up and do it all over again the next day. We learned how to
delegate work to each other, how to finance by kicking in the dimes and nickels
we all had, who to send for supplies, who to scout the building sites, and whose
mom made the best lunches. We argued, we would sometimes fight, we got upset,
we got our feelings hurt. Then a few minutes after were back to building our
forts again. We were kids, we were normal, having fun, staying out of trouble
and applying life to our life. It would only be later when girls and cars
interfered we would see how much fun we really had, and the importance of team
work. Maybe that is why we look back so fondly and the memories are all good.
It was the summers off with little parental guidance that we really learned
life’s lessons, all without cracking a book or doing any homework. There has to
be a lesson in there somewhere...
And then there was theology. Lessons, memorization, Sunday school and
church. Rules and regulations, a list of thou shalt nots, and all the fun was
taken from us. We just wanted to be kids out playing, they thought it was all
about knowledge and obedience. They taught from books, we learned from doing.
A lesson I apply to my life today. I am blessed to work with many Christians
who are our doing what God has asked them to do with no formal training. No
budgets, meeting, plans or processes, just the spirit to guide as we go. When
we need things, we ask God and then wait as he supplies. From clothes to beds,
from food to water, housing and medical, he never fails. When we needed food
for Dustin Arms, it was Nick who was directed to Pastor Pete, who lets us raid
is freezer each week and take all we want. With joy. Which has inspired other
men, Jay and George to source food and share it also. Sam and Kay provide more
clothes than we need, blankets, robes, curtains and rugs. We give them a list,
they fill it. And always have more than we ask. Nick has others within the
building help out, clean and vacuum, clean the toilets, and help with repairs.
All without drawing a salary, without a budget, and without seeking funds. Much
like when we were kids, we use what God has provided, and when follow his plans,
we are blessed, and others are encouraged. We study how to apply the Bible to
our lives, not study and memorize, but apply it to the problems we face. No
homework other than pray and if a need arises, fill it. We get to see the
gospel in action rather than just words on a page. We get to see the
forgiveness of Jesus in action, people saved and lives changed, and they pass it
on to others. Because they want to, not have to. Rather than form a team and
go out and share Jesus, we try to live him. Don’t expect perfection though, we
are still a work in progress. A process not completed yet....
But we are out and among the people, not cooped up in church or study. We
don’t have to look for the hurting, they are among us, and all need Jesus. What
shows his love better than feeding the hungry or giving water to the thirsty?
Are you reading the book, or are you becoming a new testimony of what Jesus was
telling us? We look at the small things, and one in particular is blessing me,
abundantly. A guy who is schizophrenic, on meds, but loves the Lord, because of
what we have done for him, now is out helping others. At first it was just
trinkets found on the street to be put I the collection plate at church, we do
not solicit money, God provides, and then he started giving me cans of food,
because he didn’t want me to be hungry. Now he is passing out CARE backs we
provide to the homeless, sharing the love of Christ with others, and be
blessed. No class or lecture could ever teach him what the spirit is doing in
his life. Many hands make light work, and in the loving hands of Jesus Christ,
we have all we need. Somewhere under the radar, we see the blessings from
Jesus, and get to pass them on. We are part of his ministry, part of his
family.
You don’t have to look far to help someone, in the next pew or parking
place. Jesus took us in as strangers, and many of us were and are strange, some
stranger than others. The forts we built only lasted for a season, the love of
Christ we share never ends. You may be the one out looking for the right scraps
to build, or be the scrap that is picked up and used after being discarded. It
takes all of us, we are all important to God. We all have a gift and talent to
share, it takes love to reveal it.
The message is Jesus, the way is Jesus, the supplier is Jesus. A God who
understands and wants to include us in his daily life. I and others get to do
it daily, and see lives changed by it. God invites you today to be part of his
work on earth, you may get your hands dirty, may miss a meal, may even see your
life changed. And as he does, others will see too. Scripture tells us that he
is preparing a mansion of glory for us in heaven, I just know mine will be a
fort. With room for all my friends, including the one with the nail pierced
hands. He too was a carpenter, and who knows better than he how to build? Or
restore?
Thanks to all who serve and encourage.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot com