Deep Roots, Taller Trees
“I will instruct thee and teach thee in the way which thou shalt go: I will guide thee with mine eye.” Psalm 32:8 KJV
When you are younger the world doesn’t look so complex. The days ahead of you are countless and, maybe being a little bit naïve, you think those older than you take the world much too seriously. It’s almost like you have a choice in your destination, or a free bus trip to anywhere you want to go. Just tell the driver and off you go.
Maybe, when we get older, we do make the world more complex, or serious, than it needs to be. I’m not sure where the transition takes place, but I’m willing to bet it is somewhere after we gain our independence. No longer is there a safety net taking care of us. Results are now based on our decisions and efforts. Bills need paying and our dreams aren’t going to make them go away.
High school is really fun once you get away from it for a few years. For some reason, we seemed more in control back then. Sure, our parents could be a pain, and it seemed like they were always telling us what to do, but with a few little tantrums we could often get things to go our way. Now, for some reason, that doesn’t work on our boss.
Back then, it was hard for us to understand that money didn’t grow on trees, as we were reminded over and over again. Now, even putting our best effort into something, or begging, doesn’t always result in more of that money falling off that tree. Quite a change of events if you really think about it.
For some reason, when I was in high school, my classes didn’t always seem that difficult. Sure, I had to study a little, but it wasn’t studying like some of those who struggled. I probably didn’t always put in my best effort, which is probably why I never got straight A’s.
I was never quite good, or probably tall enough to make the basketball team. I loved basketball and it was one of those activities my dad enjoyed doing with me. I practiced and practiced on the concrete patio and hoop my parents put in the back yard. I might have been better than some of the neighborhood kids, but I was never quite good enough to be a member of the high school team. I was always there trying out, but every time my talents weren’t what they were looking for.
The track team was where I found my high school sport’s acceptance. Of course, there were no tryouts for track. Everyone who wanted to put in the effort made the team. Actually, it wasn’t until my final track meet that I think the coach realized I could actually run. Unfortunately, I was a senior and there would be no more chances for me.
Realizing the world was mine to go get, I decided at the end of my sophomore year to graduate a year early, or for what should have been my junior year. Even then, I was quite the history buff, and doing this would allow me to graduate in our country’s bicentennial year. My parents were very supportive, and we filled in all the paperwork. Everything was approved and I was all set to graduate a year early. At the end of the next school year, my actual junior year, I would be a high school graduate.
A few weeks before my “final high school year” was set to start, I changed my mind. I decided I wanted to go to VoTech (or what the high school trade school was called) to learn carpentry. The county’s VoTech center was held a few miles away from my high school. All the county schools, not just the one I was attending, would go there at the same time.
The VoTech program was a half-day program, and we would catch a bus at our high schools and be transported there. When the half-day was over, they would bus us back to our high schools. The other half-day we would spend in “regular” classes. These Votech classes were part of a two-year program.
When I signed up for the carpentry class at VoTech, I thought it was going to teach us how to build houses. Here I was a little disappointed. It was more a class on cabinet and furniture making. My disappointment was soon replaced with the joy of some great friendships from some of those who went to rival schools. We would often get together on our own. Regular visits to the local duck pin bowling alley became part of our routine.
I never did learn anything in that class about building a house. The instructor did, however, get me a job working one summer as a carpenter’s helper for a builder. I’m sure this help led me to having the courage to get in the plumbing field. Around the plumbing world would be where I spent most of my adult professional life.
My dad liked to say, “Anytime you put J-O-B in front of something, it ruins all the fun.” For most people, myself probably included, that is probably a true statement. It’s probably more of an attitude thing than a reality thing, though.
Now, being retired, I think about how much time I wasted thinking about how unhappy I was with my career decisions. Happiness didn’t come looking for me, but I didn’t go looking for it either. Just like the little boy in high school, I guess I just figured that happiness finding me was just how the world was supposed to work.
Looking back, I see so many benefits I have gained by the path I traveled. Because of my plumbing jobs and school, I can see the mechanics involved with the steps in fixing things. It has also taught me that failures are just eliminating things that don’t work, not an excuse for giving up.
I’ve also learned that even those jobs I despised had silver linings. When I focused on the clouds, I couldn’t see the flowers blooming because I was too busy watching the rain falling from the sky. I can’t think of a single job I have ever had where I didn’t learn something from it. Surprisingly, now that I think about it, those lessons enabled me to take added skills with me and use in other places.
There have been many “bad bosses” I have had. They have kept me up at night when nothing ever seemed to please them. High blood pressure and headaches were the biggest effects they have had on me. Yet, those memories seem to overshadow the memories of the good bosses I have had. Even with the bad bosses, their techniques taught me to be better in those moments when I was in charge. I knew what didn’t work, or at least didn’t work on me.
Even though I couldn’t see it back then, I was never just a plumber’s helper, plumber, or salesman. I’ve learned to use tools, computers, programs, and even words in a manner in which have helped me to this day. Yes, just like those high school and colleges classes that I saw no future purpose in life for, I have actually used in other parts of my life.
Hearing about the spot I missed in a yard I mowed when I was young, delivering newspapers in the ice or snow, digging ditches in the heat and humidity of the summer to lay pipes in, the training classes my eyes had trouble staying open for, the countless useless meetings I have sat through, and all the other events that I dreaded, all have helped make me who I am.
Many have been the times I have wanted to quit a job, and sometimes enough was enough and I did, but the rewards for frustration are not always received in a paycheck. Sure, some of that money has helped fund part of my retirement, but the friendships I have gained, the experience I earned, the compassion I have been taught, the overcoming I have witnessed, have all always held more value than the pay I have earned.
So, for those of you in the middle of those miserable jobs or other events in your life, there is a reason you are there. There may be no light that you can see, but, trust me, there is still a sun behind those clouds. Sure, there may be a better place for you to be, or even a better place you should be, but don’t miss a moment right now because of your misery. Look for the good points and enjoy them, or at the least learn from them.
One of these days you are going to reach the point where you realize you can’t go back and live anything again. Regrets just hold you back from enjoying life today. Focusing on only the bad things only results in high blood pressure and time wasted. There are good things, sometimes you just have to take your eyes off the bad ones.
This nice sized city (2022 population was 75,848), used to be known as the “Electric City.” The town developed the electric-operated trolley system, which brought a “modern” tint to the city in 1886. The Dunder Mifflin Paper Company, from The Office TV series, is also based here. Of course, that is actually a fictional company, but several elements of the show are actually accurate. For instance, the welcome sign is actually a scavenger hunt.
At 75,848 (2020 census), this city is the largest city in the Northeastern part of their state. It is also the sixth largest town in their state. The city is named for George Whitfield Scranton, who was an industrialist and politician. He is considered the founder of the city because when he moved here in the late 1830s, he established an iron furnace with his brother Selden. The company was called Iron & Coal Company. My guess is that unique company naming wasn’t their specialty.
Joey was born here. He was quite the competitive kid. Wherever there was a ball, Joey was always willing to participate in a game. Quickness seemed to be a gift bestowed on him, so he was one of those everyone liked to have on their team.
Scranton, Pennsylvania, the town mentioned above, might be termed a typical midclass town. Hard working people, who often struggled to make ends meet, lived in its houses. These people want to make it and often that required them to work more than one job.
Joe, Sr. knew the benefits of the upper end of society. Contacts were how Senior was able to move into that part of society. He had a rich uncle who set him up in a lucrative executive position.
Timing was everything to Bill Sheen, Senior’s rich uncle. America had just entered World War II. Bill invented a product that was used to line Cemetery vaults. Later, he expanded the business to include manufacturing a watertight sealant that was used, and required, on merchant marine ships.
Having a little bit of wealth, Joey’s dad purchased a home in the affluent Long Island suburb of Garden City. He also was getting very comfortable with this high society life. But then business setbacks came. Eventually things got so bad that that even Uncle Bill bailed on him. This caused Senior to have to move his family in with one of Joey’s grandparents. Joey was about seven years old.
Things only got worse when an economic downturn came to Scranton. Jobs became scarce. Senior was having to take any odd job he could find just to keep food on the family table.
His father would move the family to a small apartment in Claymont, Delaware. Shortly thereafter, his father would move them into a house in Mayfield, Delaware. Here his dad settled into a job as a used car salesman. His father became pretty successful as a used car salesman and was able to keep the family in the middle-class American lifestyle.
I’m sure the move to Delaware must have been a little hard on Joey. He had lots of friends in Scranton, but their family unit was strong, and they quickly adapted to their new environment.
As the oldest son, and child, Joey was named after his father. He would have a younger sister, Val, and two younger brothers, Jim and Frank. Joey would always remain close to his sister Val. They were one of those pet families. Early on they would have a beagle named Snoopy and a German Shepherd named King. One of their favorite shows would be Lassie.
His interest in politics might be credited to an uncle who would sit down with him and read the newspaper with him. They would discuss the latest news and even the topics in the editorial pages.
Delaware was probably a little tougher on little Joey Biden. He was used to having lots of friends and being quite popular. Mayfield had several bullies. Joey had become an easy target because he stuttered. Unfamiliar circumstances and new pressures didn’t help his condition, and probably made it worse. A teacher would even mock him when he read aloud. She started her taunt by saying, “Mr. Bu-bu-bu-bu-Biden….”
He never let all this intimidate him, though. He would fall back on one of the things he liked to do best, sports. Baseball was one of the sports he played, but he became a standout halfback and receiver on his high school football team.
Joey became quite popular. He was elected class president his junior and senior years of high school. This was despite the fact he was a rather poor academic student. The rather poor academic trail would follow him to college. He, however, was able to graduate from the University of Delaware, in Newark, with a double major in history and political science.
Joe, Joseph Robinette, Biden, Jr. was able to overcome his stuttering by reciting poetry in front of a mirror. So, even as a person with poor speech and grades, he was able to rise above them and he became quite successful in his political career.
One of the great things I love about the Bible is that it gives us so many examples, using people’s lives and experiences, to show us how not to do things. I constantly find myself saying, “Yep! I know that feeling,” every time one of them messes up.
On most occasions, the stories don’t end there, though. Over and over again, they shake the dust off their knees and get back up and try again. This helps me find the courage to keep going and not give up.
Another great thing I love about the Bible is that it gives us so many examples, using people’s lives and experiences, of how to do things. Here, with these good examples, we see that being a good example takes a lot more effort. Who wants to be thrown in a pit like Joseph or Jeremiah? How about building a large boat out in the middle of a land locked area with everyone laughing at you, like Noah? Lions are for watching on TV or at the zoo, not to be thrown to, or for you to come face to face with. Think of Daniel, Samson, or even David who all encountered these beasts.
There is one Bible character that I must confess, at times, I have had a hard time understanding. I’m not alone in my thinking, and I even know some who don’t always see eye to eye with him. There were even other Bible characters who had not so kind encounters with him. Yet he is one of the most mentioned people in the Bible.
Like many of the characters in the Bible, this one has a very strong personality. Being very “religious” in his youth, he could often be quite judgmental. This attitude, although never completely escaping him, would eventually be tamed a little. This would eventually lead to a desire to help others make their lives be a better mirror of what God wanted them to be.
When you grow up in church, it is easy to think of the world as those who are on the right path and those who aren’t. A “at least my life isn’t like theirs” point of view is easy to acquire. Then, once that is perfected, it next grows into a black and white line being drawn between right and wrong. After that, it manifests into separating yourself from those who you feel are corrupt or even evil.
This Bible character would probably fit that mold. There was nothing wrong with the way he grew up or was raised. In fact, it’s quite commendable that he wanted his life to line up with the scriptures’ ways. God knows His ways are best and they lead to a life that honors Him. So far, so good.
For some reason, God gives us a choice as to whether we want to make Him the Lord of our life or not. He also gives us the ability to decide whether we want to obey His commands or not. God gives that ability, and choice, to everyone, not just you.
Too often we feel the need to reform the world, or to get it back to God’s standards. Over and over again the Bible talks about the evil that is all around us. It is definitely there. The Bible also goes to great lengths telling of an upcoming punishment that will come to those who turn from God, or His ways.
Where we often run into trouble is when we take up God’s role. We feel we need to make people be the people God wants them to be. The problem is that is not our job, nor are we knighted with the ability to tell someone what God wants them to be. God asks us to help them get there, not make them get there. God wants that choice to be theirs, not a twisting of their arms on our part.
Here is where we find our Bible character. If gold stars were the rating system of his time, he would receive five stars for his scripture knowledge. You want to know what the scriptures says, or at least what the scripture scholars of his day said, about the right way to live and worship, he would be your man. Strong, stubborn beliefs? He had no equal.
Because of these strong beliefs, many were scared to stand up against him. An “if they are afraid, I must be right” ego filled his soul. Soon it wasn’t a battle of winning people to his side, it became a crusade to end all those who opposed him.
What if there was even a hint that some of what others were saying was actually in the scriptures, he was the master of? It made no difference. If it didn’t correspond to his interpretation, it might as well not even enter their minds.
So off he went, to make people live to “God’s standards,” or at least as he saw them. Here is where we see what God thinks when someone else claims to speak for Him when He really wasn’t the messenger God wanted to send them. Or, at least, he was not the messenger for God at that time.
I guess God could have just struck this individual down with a lightning bolt. Then again, if God struck him down, He would have to create a lot more lightning bolts because almost everyone one of us, at one time or another, steps in God’s place and decides what is the ultimate right or wrong.
Saul, our Bible character, saw the need to eliminate the new religious sect known to follow this so-called messiah, Jesus. How dare they misinterpret his scriptures and follow such a fanatic. They were going to dilute his scriptures, and he was going to have none of this.
So, Saul, the man on a mission, heads to the town of Damacus. I guess there was a real Christian problem there and he was going to stop it. The problem was it wasn’t his job to stop it. He had all the book knowledge, but he forgot to ask God what His plans were.
Guess who the ultimate boss is? It wasn’t Saul. In what was maybe a downgraded version of lightning, God flashes a bright light that blinds Saul. “What are you doing?” shouts come from this light. “Who are you?” Saul pleads. A little annoyed, the voice replies, “What do you mean, who am I? I’m the One who makes the earth spin, and you are doing everything you can to stop it.”
Puzzled, but silent, Saul quickly learns that these scriptures he is the master of haven’t been exactly interpreted the way God wanted them to be interpreted. Saul is a quick study and in no time, he becomes a better listener and follower. Once he realizes it isn’t his word to interpret, God gives Saul a new name: Paul.
Since God finally has Saul, I mean Paul, on the right track does everything go perfectly for Paul? No! Even after he was converted, Paul’s life didn’t look so hot if you use earthly eyes.
Of course, all the people, especially the Christian brethren, were solidly behind Paul, right? Wrong! Here is just some of the list of people Paul, at times, had unfriendly encounters with: Peter (yes, the disciple Peter), Barnabas, Timothy, the Pharisees, the Sadducees, his former “religious” friends, the Romans, and there are probably many more.
Paul would finally understand that a good life was a life that follows God and listens for His instructions. It wasn’t about eliminating all the bad things around him. Over and over again, especially toward the end of his life, Paul reinforces his strong belief that he has a very good life despite his trials and trouble. He really felt blessed, not by the great earthly treasures he had accumulated, but by looking past the bad things and focusing on the good things.
I don’t recall the Bible ever saying Paul’s life, after his conversion, was a happy life. Well, if one were to take an inventory of all the most eventful things in Paul’s new life, they would probably come to the opposite conclusion. Listen to some of the eventful things in Paul’s Christian life:
Of the Jews five times received I forty stripes save one. Thrice was I beaten with rods, once was I stoned, thrice I suffered shipwreck, a night and a day I have been in the deep;
In journeyings often, in perils of waters, in perils of robbers, in perils by mine own countrymen, in perils by the heathen, in perils in the city, in perils in the wilderness, in perils in the sea, in perils among false brethren;
In weariness and painfulness, in watchings often, in hunger and thirst, in fastings often, in cold and nakedness.
Beside those things that are without, that which cometh upon me daily, the care of all the churches.
Who is weak, and I am not weak? who is offended, and I burn not?
If I must needs glory, I will glory of the things which concern mine infirmities.
The God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, which is blessed for evermore, knoweth that I lie not.
(2 Corinthians 11:24-31 KJV)
Instead, Paul uses words like blessed, to describe his feelings about his life. See, even when the bad things were happening in Paul’s life, he was always looking for that silver lining. Each of these events, even the bad ones, had a purpose for being in his life. I think Paul was just happy that God was using him.
The simple fact of the matter is that God didn’t just use Saul/Paul, God also uses each one of us. Where we run into problems is when “bad events” stop us in our tracks in seeing that even those are part of God molding us into who He wants us to be.
Bullies, stuttering, or even economic conditions couldn’t stop Joe Biden from seeing the positive parts of his life and using them to advance his political career. Even though it took a bolt of light to turn his life around, Paul learned to find the good even when bad things were happening to him. It even hasn’t been too late for an old retired guy like me to see all the disappointments weren’t actually disappointments at all. They were God’s way of getting me to exactly where He wanted me to be.
Prayer: Dear Mighty Father, Thank You for this life you have given me. Yes, even in those moments when I have felt extremely disappointed, You were there getting me to exactly where you wanted me to be. Amen.
