Over the years I have found I like going to work more when I have fun with the people I work with. I don't and never have done boring, overly professional situations well, seems I am not quite adult to do their boring situations. Starting with an early job at Sears, this group of men I worked with on the receiving platform formed my work ethics-which led me to the belief of what good is fun if you don't enjoy it. So I had fun. We unloaded trucks, priced the items, and sent it to the appropriate part of the warehouse underneath the store. PC was our boss, who disliked us, but we were all so good he couldn't fire us, but the docks were really run by Dominic Ianucci-great name and a great guy. A bit older than us, he would tolerate quite a bit, realizing we would get the work done if left to our own sordid habits. Actually, there was a fear factor there, I can't tell you how many times he just looked at me and shook his head in disbelief, but we loved him. And respected him.
And because of letting us to our own devices, we made his life more interesting. Like the time my friend Glenn cut his hand on a metal band-those things could cut you so quick you could lose a pint before you felt the pain. Using paper towels and masking tape, we fixed him up and unloaded the trailer. And being funny, signed all the bills of lading in his blood, using a paper clip. And it was funny until the ICC guy showed up-seems anything signed in red means not received, and they were accusing him of hijacking the whole truckload. Fortunately Dom intervened, but we were reminded of how if you take a simpleton, give him a title with a clipboard and badge, how things can get blown out of proportion.
And I can still see Pete Busch standing under the NO SMOKING sign with the fire inspector-having a smoke with him, because that was where the ashtray was. Bending, as we thought, but never fully breaking the rules. We only looked at them as a challenge to our sanity-and being insane most of the time gave us a much different perspective of how things should work.
One of the guys was Richie, who at 5'8" and 330 pounds was built like a transformer. We called him "Big Fat Witzie," like a kid would mispronounce his name and he hated it. So of course that is what we called him. One of our jobs was to receive and unload a trailer each afternoon. Richie was known for unloading a section, then building a wall of merchandise and sleeping behind it. We all used this system for various nefarious plans, but one day Richie fell asleep behind a wall of 12 lawnmowers stacked to the roof. When the driver showed up to take the supposedly empty trailer, he put a seal on the door after closing it-thinking the mowers were returns, and then took the trailer. With Richie asleep behind them. With ICC law saying only at the final destination could the seal be broken. Bon voyage Witzie!
Now this trailer happened to be going to Pittsburgh, some 300+ miles away, so we didn't see Richie for a few days. And when someone asked where he was, referred him to Dom, who was trying to save his job and also his own. So we were told he went home sick, and would be out for a few days. And the plan worked, except Richie always thought I locked him in, and made me sorry I missed the chance. But afterwards, Dom had us unload the trucks in pairs, for safety reasons, he said, but really to cover each others backs. No more mid- afternoon naps in trailers-or any other fun! For a while. And not much was ever said about Richie's trip to Pittsburgh, I always wondered what the guys thought when they opened the trailer and found Richie there. With no papers-maybe that is why they sent him back.
But a brotherhood was formed that day, among us, of respect and trust. Based on enforcing a lie brought us all closer because of this. And even among ourselves, we would laugh-never when Richie was there-and definitely not when PC was in the room. But we stuck together through this episode, and actually built a trust with each other-I can say no one ever took a trip in a trailer again! And learned a great deal of respect for Dom and how he handled the situation. He was Richies' saviour that day-at least of his job, and at the possible expense of his own.
It is sad however, how we had to cover a sin with another to keep from more trouble. But that was our audience, and it worked for them. Give them an answer that fits a choice on their clipboard. The truth would only make things worse, as I'm not sure there was a box to be marked for sleeping on the job in a trailer. And Jesus knows your sin. And loves us despite it, so we don't have to make up another story to cover our sin. Yet I see myself and others when caught as kids, just make up a story that we think would appease our parents, or teachers, and make everything all right. And some still do as adults. Numbers tells us that our sin will find us out, not God. Ask David about Bathsheba. So why be afraid to tell Him, and be forgiven? Perhaps because of early lessons of how God is going to get you-wrong. Or how He will punish you and make you do deeds to get into heaven-wrong again. And because of this, and comparing Him to your earthly father-who could appear as both God and the devil-as well as Santa Claus, we learned naughty and nice was how we were judged. But in reality, He is much different. When we ask Him into our hearts, we are forgiven. Past, present, and future. He doesn't see it-although we still continue to make mistakes, our hearts have changed so we don't want to do the same things. And like Richie's trip, He doesn't bring them up-remember when you are accused, it is Satan-not God who does it. So bask in His forgiveness, and forgive yourselves. No rules can make you more obedient, but His love can. And get on with your life.
Greater love has no man than to lay down his life for another was shown in a crude form by Dom that day. Jesus' way is pure. Read the gospels, and find how He forgave those in sin, in pain, and who did not believe. He showed love where others brought up the law. And unlike the trailer Glenn received in red blood, His blood atones for our mistakes, and our names are written forever in the book of life-by His blood we are saved.
I forgot to add this epeisode to the list of things I am forgiven for-don't you make the same mistake. All sin is forgiven at the cross. And no matter where you lay your head, Jesus is there with you. Even on your way to Pittsburgh in a trailer. Open your eyes and heart and receive Him into your life today. No excuses made or offered. He is the truth-I like that.
I just hope Richie, Dom, and the others from 40 years ago have, too. God touch them wherever they are, in Jesus name.
love with compassion,
Mike
matthew25biker.blogspot.com