My apprenticeship began at 2020 Terrace Drive. The house looks the same as it did 50+ years ago. I recognise the water cooler on the roof, the flower beds, and even the fence style my father built back in the day. As the recognition set in, I stopped to let the flood of old stories wash over me. Among the memories was my first apprenticeship lesson, learning how to hammer a nail into a wood stump. It may not seem important, at least it did not to me that day, but my teacher, doubling in his role as my father, insisted it was a mandatory first step. The task was finished when the bucket was empty.
I look back and remember several hundred nails, all kinds of shapes and sizes. Finish, brad, and framing nails were just the beginning. There was small, ever so thin and easy-to-bend nails mixed in with massive thick nails with a big cap to aim at. The big ones were easy to hit but still took a log of swings to pound them fully into the wood. As I progressed, I discovered my swing mattered. Then Dad added different types of wood to the mix. Hardwoods that I split as often as I was able to get a nail all the way in. Soft and fragile wood that ended up with lots of hammerhead marks.
I look back at my first apprenticeship lesson and realise how the foundation that day continues to be each day’s building block. I have come to appreciate the questions posed centuries ago; “While you are guiding others, who is going to guide you? I’m quite serious. While preaching ‘Don’t steal!’ are you going to rob people blind? Who would suspect you?” (Romans 2.21). My apprenticeship continues with Life as my teacher.
The simple act of nailing is filled with technique, awareness, and nuances. To learn, one must first act. Mistakes will be made. Understand, be honest, let Wisdom reveal a better way. Then put the learning into action.
Thank-you Father for the first lesson and foundation.
