“A craftsman is known by his tools—and by how he cares for them.” – Traditional Proverb
As I opened the door to the shop, I immediately felt a deep sense of defeated disappointment. Three weeks earlier had I spent a full day, once again, organizing tools, parts and equipment yet sadly mayhem had once again ruled the day.
My default response in a situation like this would be to roll up my sleeves and start digging in and re-organizing again. Fueled by frustration I would attack the task before me. Yet in a moment of grace, I paused. What would my grandfather do in this moment? It would be a teachable moment, of course.
The new staff member responsible for the shop is a very young adult that I have known and enjoyed conversing with since he was a kid. As such, I looked forward to the conversation in the shop about tool management. Yet before long the conversation evolved from organizing tools in a shop to a much larger and deeper conversation.
Every situation requires the right tools. What’s in our shop or toolbox makes a difference. Recognizing the tools we possess, identifying the ones we still need to acquire and understanding how to use them effectively is critical. This of course is not just about wrenches and hammers but also life tools such as patience, curiosity, discipline, humility, courage, compassion, discernment, and faith. These are all tools that help us navigate the challenges before us.
As we left the shop together, my momentary frustration had been completely replaced with the opportunity to walk with this young adult reflecting together on the tools we possess, the ones we still need to develop, and how to use them faithfully and effectively in the countless situations life will inevitably place before us.
As I once heard, “A well-stocked toolbox is of little value if we don’t know what’s inside, where to find it, or when to use it. The same is true of the gifts, wisdom, and experiences God has entrusted to us.”
BP