Sunday, February 25, 2001

A handyman I'm not, but I'm thankful God has the skills

I feel like I've finally arrived. I usually don't fool with junk mail, except to give it a quick glance before I trash it. But this piece caught my eye and immediately my self-esteem received a boost.

"Your Membership Has Been Approved! You are an official member of the Handyman Club of America. Please keep what you learn here to yourself. Use your special member privileges for YOUR benefit only. Keep any free tools or equipment given to you by the club out of the hands of non-members."

"Wow!" I thought. "I'm finally a handyman! I was overjoyed because I didn't grow up with a hammer in my hand. Anyone can learn how to swing a hammer, and along the way I began to bend a few nails now and then.

But this "handyman aptitude" is another matter. It just didn't come naturally. Doing "handy-man stuff" was too much work that brought too much stress.

I discovered early that I was more of a liberal arts guy, and I was slow with the hands-on stuff. I can whip together the annual Christmas letter with ease, but putting together a tricycle on Christmas Eve was always an ordeal.

"The Handyman Club of America is special. We are a membership of people who get a lot of satisfaction from doing things ourselves. From what we know about you, you are our kind of handyman."

I bet they didn't know about my experience at a local hardware store in my hometown. When I was a teenager, I mowed lawns, raked leaves and did yard work. I posted signs in the convenience stores near our subdivision, and developed some regular customers.

One day a "Mrs. C" requested that I mow her lawn. She was so impressed with my work ethic and good job that she invited me to come down to her hardware store at Christmas break and she'd hire me as seasonal help.

I was so thrilled that she recognized my hard work and rewarded me with a Christmas job. The first day her son the manager sent me to the attic with two other workers to put together bicycles, big wheels and other assorted kiddie vehicles. I didn't have a good feeling about this, but I gave it my best shot.

By lunchtime I was still struggling with completing my first project. Her son the manager recognized that I'd been on the clock for four hours already and had yet to produce a finished product. So he took me out of the attic and put me on the sales floor.

That was fine, since, being a people-person, I'd rather be with the public than spend all day with nuts, bolts, and wrenches. Only, they gave me no orientation. So when a customer came in and requested whatever specialized screw, tool or whatever handymen shop for, I had to run ask her son the manager where it was.

This went on everyday for the three-week-duration of my Christmas job. I was ready to move on, and they probably were relieved to see school resume, also.

The next Christmas I decided to check in and see if they were hiring seasonal help. Interestingly, "Mrs. C" said they didn't need anyone that Christmas. At least I gained some exposure to hardware and tools.

My next big experience with my handyman education came years later in Awendaw, South Carolina. Hurricane Hugo tore up the South Carolina coast, and a group from my church travelled to Awendaw to help First Baptist with repairs.

I was assigned to drywall, mud and sand the new bathroom that had been constructed for use by other mission groups that would be coming that summer. So I spent the week mudding and sanding, mudding and sanding, and then sanding some more. It was educational, not to mention dusty.

"Today, our rolls include the cream of do-it-yourself enthusiasts. When you see the Club Decal, you know you're in the company of a handyman who enjoys doing things for himself. One who takes pride in his work."

I'm thankful God takes pride in His work, even when He gives different skills and abilities. The Bible says, "we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works."

One day at a time, one truth at a time, Sunday by Sunday and year by year, God is in the process of growing the believer in holiness and spiritual growth. None of us arrives at spiritual maturity overnight, but God is still working. He is the ultimate handyman, and has all the skills necessary to mold us into Christ-likeness when we trust in Him and rely on Him each day.

(Dr. David L. Chancey is pastor, McDonough Road Baptist Church, Fayetteville. The McDonough Road family cordially invites you to join them this Sunday for Bible study at 9:45 a.m. and worship at 10:55 a.m. and 6 p.m.).

Back to News Home Page | Back to the top of the page