The day started with a nice breakfast, smiles & thoughts of getting a lot done! As our morning events took form, we started on removing the chimney, enter the sledgehammer! So far? So good! Row after row, “crack” followed by a thud. Hammer swings, lands with a crack against the chimney then a thud as chunks land on the floor… time to do a bit of “training” I asked Al if he would like to help, I was met with an enthusiastic yes! Al grabs the 8 pounder with both hands and swings like a pro! “CRACK” “nice job Al! Just like that… now let’s hit the other side.”…. another crack but this time it was three coarse too low. “Ok Al, you need to hit it at the top not the bottom” swift reply of ok and another big swing “CRACK” “ok Al, stop for just a second” as Al lowers the 8# hammer… “ok Al, instead of hitting it way down here, hit it up on the top, hit it right…….” as I was uttering the word “here” I felt the “CRACK” as my fourth finger on my right hand cushioned the chimney from its impending doom!
As years in the trades, and years in the Bible collided at one moment of time, I’m proud to say the words of my mouth and meditation of my heart controlled my tongue in a two word prayer, all I could say as I thought “Lord, help me in this moment” was clearly and repeatedly “OHH GOD” … I laid down on the floor to prevent falling as the pain surged and I started to loose my balance. But God is good all the time and in some miraculous way, no blood! It hurts pretty bad still but it will heal. I learned another valuable lesson that day, and God gave the strength to continue to achieve a productive weekend.
Finding good in a bad situation is one of God’s greatest gifts! Well that and ice!