PERIODIC OBSERVATIONS Vicious Cycle vs Virtuous Cycle Wednesday 03.12.14 A story is told of a certain carpenters shop where all the tools were in conference. Mr. Hammer was presiding. The members, however, informed him that he must leave because he was too noisy. Mr. Hammer said, If I am to leave this shop Mr. Gimlet must go, too. He is so insignificant that he can only make a small impression. Little Mr. Gimlet stood and said, All right, but Mr. Screw must go also – you have to turn him around and around to get him anywhere. Mr. Screw then said, If you wish, I will go, but Mr. Plane must leave also; all his work is on the surface. There is no depth to it. Thereupon, Mr. Plane replied, Well, Mr. Rule will have to withdraw if I do, for he is always measuring other folks as though he were the only one who is right. He then complained against Mr. Sandpaper and said, I just dont care for him; he is rougher than he ought to be. He is always rubbing people the wrong way. As the shop was abuzz with all the aversions among each other, the Carpenter walked in. He had come to do His days work. He put on his apron and went to the bench to make a pulpit. He employed the screw, the gimlet, the sandpaper, the saw, the hammer, the plane and all the other tools. After the days work was over and the pulpit was finished, Mr. Saw arose and said, Brethren, I perceive that all of us are laborers together with God. We are not unaware that this shop scenario is experienced in most organizations – in the home, the workplace, the government, and sadly, even in churches. But this should not be the case in the Christian community. Instead of going through the vicious cycle of fussing and fighting let us replace it with something greater – the virtuous cycle of love and grace. May Pauls words to Timothy be ours, too... But you, Timothy, are a man of God; so run from all these evil things. Pursue righteousness and a godly life, along with faith, love, perseverance, and gentleness. Fight the good fight for the true faith. Hold tightly to the eternal life to which God has called you, which you have confessed so well before many witnesses. (1 Timothy 6:11, 12 NLT)
Posted on: Thu, 13 Mar 2014 02:36:13 +0000
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