Quiet Strength - Book I, Love's Mission, Page 2

Chapter Two: A Bible and a Hammer

  Ryan made it a point to be passing Ed’s house at 4:15 p.m. the next day. He stopped and talked with Ed more. “Ryan, do you have plans for spring break?”

  “No Sir, I don’t have plans.” Ryan was embarrassed at how free he was. He was completely free to come and go as he pleased. He had the life that his friends begged for, but Ryan hated it.

  “Well, if you have time, I would love to offer you a job.” Ed was serious. Ryan’s heart flew to his throat.

  “What?” Ryan spoke up in disbelief.

  “We need some help putting a roof on the sanctuary at church. We are in desperate need for a new roof this spring and this summer we will be putting a new addition on the fellowship hall to add classrooms. We need good strong laborers. What do you think?”

  Ryan just stood there, dumbfounded.

  “I forgot to tell you that you won’t have to worry about what you are doing with your money because it is free labor,” Ed laughed.

  Ryan wasn’t thinking about the money. He was thinking about having more time with Ed and his family. He was drawn to them for reasons he couldn’t explain.

  “I can do that,” Ryan said assuredly.

  “Are you sure? It’s a big commitment. You will be lifting heavy building materials, working in the unpredictable spring weather and in the summer’s heat. There will be times that you will go to work at sunrise and not get home until dark.” Ed was really pushing Ryan for a commitment that he could remind Ryan of if he got discouraged.

  “You can trust me Ed; I will be there for you.” Ryan was as sure as anything that he wanted to be a part of whatever Ed was doing.

  “Okay then, we have a gentleman’s agreement. If you work well on the roof, we will bring you back in a few weeks to start helping on the addition. It will be an all summer job. Several men, including myself will be using their vacation time to help work. There will be a different work crew there every week. We need someone constant who knows what has been going on to keep everyone informed.” Ed knew the pastor and Himself would be in charge. He wasn’t lying to the boy. He was giving this young man hope and purpose.

  “If this works out, to show my appreciation, I will give you Tess.” Ed was dead serious about Tess, but Ryan was clueless who Tess was.

  “Tess? Who is Tess?” Ryan’s question and expression made Ed laugh so hard that tears trickled down his face.

  “Sorry Ryan. Tess is the 54 Chevy I was going to sell. I have called her Tess since the day I drove her off the lot.”

  Ryan shook his head. “Really, a car?” He could not understand why a man he just met twenty-four hours earlier would be so kind to him.

  That was the beginning of a life of meaning, need, and importance for Ryan. He had purpose every morning when he got up. He was always the first one there to meet whoever was available to work at the church. One day it might be a roofer he was with, the next day a plumber and then another day a drywall man who wanted to give estimates or take measurements. Ryan became the only constant figure on the job. Ed met him every morning at 7:00 a.m. The first thing they did was pray about the day and for safety. The second thing they did was read scripture from the Bible. After a week on the roof, Ed, the pastor, and every other worker who had been on the job trusted Ryan to do what they asked.

  Later that week, there was an early-morning Friday meeting for the workers. It poured the rain, squelching any hopes of work for the day, so after the meeting, Pastor, Ed and Ryan went out to breakfast.

  “You are doing a great job, young man.” Pastor was such a great encourager. He built Ryan up and told him of his true value to God himself. As they sat in the booth, they had a deeper discussion about God’s love and purpose for everyone’s life. Ryan asked questions and his very soul soaked up every answer given about God’s mercy and calling. After breakfast, Ryan prayed a sinner’s prayer and became part of the biggest family he ever knew.

  Ed laid a box that he had been carrying with him down on the table. “These are for you, Ryan.” Ed pushed the box toward Ryan.

  Ryan was overwhelmed with emotion. Every day he strived to show no emotion or the emptiness that tormented him. Now wasn’t the time to hide. He was open and crying for the first time he could remember. He opened the box to find two objects. One was a beautiful black leather Bible and the other was a nice 20 oz. hammer. “Both of these gifts can help you to build your life and career.” The Pastor hugged Ryan and welcomed him into the family of God.

  The summer of 66 was an amazing transformation for Ryan. He changed mentally, physically and spiritually. The boy Ed met in March was no longer. Ryan learned to use a hammer and the Bible as a way of life. Physically, the skinny boy had gained twenty pounds of muscle. He filled his t-shirts out with ease and had to go up a pants size.

  School was to start in a week. Ryan tried not to think about it. It wasn’t that he didn’t like school; it was that he had found a peace where he was and didn’t want to change. The only change he was looking forward to was his school schedule. Carpentry, blueprint reading, plumbing, and heating, anything that had to do with building and repairing was what he wanted to do when he graduated. Ed had helped him to find his niche and his passion. The last Friday of summer break, Ed met Ryan at the church. He had the keys and the title of the 54 Chevy with him, just as he had promised.