New Man in the Shop

One aspect of Out of the Woodwork that I find pretty delightful is having someone new come to the shop and show some appreciation for the potential they see there. When I first started opening the shop that my father passed on to me to others, one of the first people showing up was a man in his eighties named Joe. His attitude was attractive right away. He said on that first visit, "I've never done any woodworking. But I figure you're never too old to learn." Although no speed records for production were broken in the process, he has completed a couple nice pieces of furniture for his home. He has seen fit to set up a small woodworking area in his garage and comes nearly every week with a question about something he is doing or looking for a new way to help with something someone else is currently building. This past week he kept his place as "favorite student" by inviting a newcomer to his neighborhood to come check out the shop.

The newcomer had recently moved into the retirement community where Joe lives and after a short introductory conversation he

made a confession. "I feel kind of funny coming here." he said. "You see I flunked wood shop." We had a good laugh about that and the fact that perhaps the readiness factor just wasn't there all those years ago when that happened. He seemed to enjoy getting familiar with the shop and visiting with the folks as they worked on various projects. When he left it was with intentions to come back with some ideas for some things he might want to attempt. I hope he was sincere in the promise to come back and it would appear the readiness factor is now in place.

I couldn't help but think about this situation in terms of how we get second chances in life to do things that we either ignored or at which we failed. I encourage the good readers of this post to consider that this business of second chances is the exact relationship God wants to have with each of us. I never failed wood shop. But I have failed to do what God wanted me to do countless times. It is His grace that allows me to do anything including writing this silly little blog. When I realize how I've let Him down and say, "Can I have another chance?" He says. "Let's assume this is the first time." and another God shaped hole in my heart is filled.