Carpenter Apprentice.

Here’s another “What I did this summer” Monday Morning Minute.  I had several projects I wanted to complete over the holidays, but this one was particularly enjoyable.

To be clear - I am not a carpenter nor am I the son of a carpenter.  But playing with power tools, making sawdust, and hearing the buzz of an air compressor makes my blood pulse.  It was with great delight that I took on the project of building a raised flowerbed at the corner of our patio slab.

When the slab was poured, there was some ugly overflow under the form.  I didn’t want to chip it away in case I cracked the slab itself.  The solution?  Build a flowerbed over it.  Easy peasy, right?

The first challenge was to keep everything square, level, and plumb since the concrete slab had a slope for water runoff.  I also didn’t want drill into the slab allowing water to penetrate and eventually crack it.  Construction adhesive is a wonderful thing - except when the base it is holding slips out of being level and square without the builder noticing it . . . let the challenge begin.  It had started so well . . . then one small moment of inattention . . . 

In the end, I got back to mostly square, level, and plumb.  When you drop by sometime, ask to see it and I’ll happily point out my camouflage work.  What I really needed was an experienced carpenter who could (a) help me avoid the mistake I made, and (b) coach me to the best way back to square, level, and plumb.  I needed (and still need!) an apprenticeship.

According to the Cambridge English Dictionary, an apprentice is someone who works with a skilled person in order to learn those skills.  It is a joint effort of master and student in collaboration for a single purpose:  to pass on the vocational skills.

Jesus’ father, Joseph, was a carpenter.  Undoubtedly he shared his skills with his son.  Jesus was an apprentice.  There is a popular tradition that suggests the region in which Jesus lived, Nazareth, was well known for its carpenters skilled in making yokes and such for attaching animals to waggons, ploughs, etc.  Maybe this is the basis for Jesus’ metaphor, “Put on my yoke . . . because it is a good fit” (Matt. 11:30)?

Similarly, could it be Jesus’ own learning experience that prompted Him to invite others to “Follow me?”  The root idea behind this that of accompanying someone and being guided by that person.  Ultimately, is that not the nature of “discipleship?” Does it not make sense that “discipleship” is really nothing more than an apprenticeship in living by faith?

I like the apprenticeship perspective of following Jesus.  It is natural and intentional.  It is based on learning in spite of mistakes (as all apprentices surely make them).  It acknowledges that my learning curve will not always produce a life that is square, level, and plumb.  Yet there is always hope because we know a Master carpenter who Himself is skilled, kind, gracious and will help us get back to that point.

Being an apprentice also means we can learn different things in different ways at a different pace.  While we share common purpose and priorities, each of us may have a unique path to learning.  How cool is that?  We may call it the “HSGILP” - the Holy Spirit Guided Individual Learning Program.  The Apostle Peter referred to it as “learning to grow in the grace and knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Jesus does not say to us, “Get better, do better, and don’t screw up.”  He invites us to walk with Him as apprentices who together learn the vocational skills of life in His Kingdom.  One of those cores skills is forgiveness.  Since we are forgiven by God, we learn to forgive one another and even forgive ourselves, a precursor to getting back to square, level, and plumb.  Together we learn the truth-faith and life-faith skills so  we represent Christ well.  

What I learnt in the flowerbed project is that there are few things that cannot be redone, rebuilt, and fixed.  Frankly, the final product looks pretty good and I’m pleased with it.  It fulfills its purpose - and the next one (if there is a next one) will be even better.  (Maybe - LOL.)  

Most importantly, I’ve learnt new skills to guide me forward and that I can share with others.  Is that not the point of apprenticeship whether it be in carpentry or faith?