The Master Carpenter

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People who know me well know that I kid a lot. The Ilocana and I had a great time in Cagayan de Oro giving talks recently. My friends Dr. Alan Melicor and Chris Barrameda fetched us from the airport and they must have noticed how many people recognized me. Chris thought about this deeply and then asked me a pointed question: “Francis, how do you keep yourself from being proud as I am sure the temptation for you is great!” I looked at him and said, “Chris, it's so hard to be humble when you’re great like me!” He frowned and then we all broke out laughing as he realized I was kidding. And then I offered an advice. The best way to deal with pride is to develop a healthy sense of amnesia. Whatever the accomplishments are, good or bad, just move on to the next task at hand knowing that we have done our best and now God will do the rest.

This story that is credited to anonymity delivers the lesson. Read the words carefully and then think through it:

Mother's father worked as a carpenter. On this particular day, he was building some crates for the clothes his church was sending to some orphanage in China. On his way home, he reached into his shirt pocket to find his glasses, but they were gone. When he mentally replayed his earlier actions, he realized what happened; the glasses had slipped out of his pocket unnoticed and fallen into one of the crates, which he had nailed shut. His brand new glasses were heading for China! The Great Depression was at its height and Grandpa had six children. He had spent $20 for those glasses that very morning. He was upset by the thought of having to buy another pair. "It's not fair," he told God as he drove home in frustration. "I've been very faithful in giving of my time and money to your work, and now this."