Hammer & Nails

​My son Ryan has always had an industrious spirit. He loves to build and create things. His favorite toy as a toddler was a set of Lincoln Logs. Rainy days were spent building tiny log cabins for the beanie babies who shared his bedroom. When Ryan was old enough to use a hammer he spent hours on end hammering nails through blocks of wood. On more than one occasion he nailed a scrap piece of plywood to the stack of blocks, creating a ramp for his mini bike.
 
Kathie and I would listen from the kitchen to the constant banging of hammer and nails, followed by the sound of his mini bike roaring down the sidewalk. From the kitchen window we would watch as Ryan sped toward his newly constructed ramp. Kathie would flinch as Ryan became airborne; I was never sure if she was concerned that our son might break an arm or if she was afraid he might land his mini bike in the middle of her flowerbed.

One childhood creation that Ryan made sits on an old wood crate in our church sanctuary—three pieces of wood, three nails, and a coat hanger. It’s not fancy, it doesn’t glitter or draw attention to itself; but for those of us who worship at Church of the Promise, it’s a simple and subtle reminder of how Jesus used a piece of wood and three nails to express God’s love for the world.  ​

​My friend Scott Dean lives in our neighborhood and worships at Church of the Promise. The other day he borrowed Ryan’s wood cross for a “project” he was working on. A week later he returned with an oil painting of the Cross and Nails. Scott, like Ryan, used his gifts to create an expression of art that points others towards God’s love.  

​Today Ryan still has an industrious flare in his soul. He and a handful of friends started a non-profit ministry called, Promise Housing Plus. They buy houses from the city that are slated for demolition and renovate the abandoned houses, restoring them into beautiful homes. They also created a non-conventional pathway to home ownership for a few of our neighbors who could not purchase a home through conventional means. Most any day of the week you can drive through our neighborhood and find Ryan and his co-worker Ben banging on nails, rebuilding houses, and loving our neighbors.

Jesus told a story once about a king who went on a trip. Before he left he gave three of his servants talents to invest in the work of the kingdom. The story ends with the king’s return and the servants giving an account of how they used their talents. Those who used their talents to bring an increase in the kingdom where honored by the king, “Well done good and faithful servant . . . come and share your master’s inheritance!”
 
One way we can “Think Red Together” is to take an inventory of our talents and evaluate how we’re using those talents to bring an increase in the kingdom of God.
 
If you’re not sure where to start, here are a few questions to consider:  What charges your batteries and gives you energy? What did you love doing when you were a child? What did you dream about when you were younger? What do you dream about now? What resources, skills and talents has God given to you? After you’ve completed your inventory ask yourself one final question: How can I use my gifts in creative ways to express God’s love for the world?