November 9, 2006

Dear family and friends of WCPC:

Let me share with you the story of a brick layer who tried to move 500 pounds of brick from the top of a five story building to the sidewalk below.  The problem was he tried to do it alone.

Here’s the letter he sent to the insurance company which asked for clarification on an accident insurance claim.

Dear Sir,

I am writing in response to your request for additional information in Block #3 of the accident report form. I put “trying to do the job alone” as the cause of my accident.
You said in your letter that I should explain more fully and I trust that the following details should be sufficient:

I’m a brick layer by trade. On the day of the accident, I was working alone on the roof of a six story building. When I completed my work, I discovered that I had approximately 500 lbs of brick left over. Rather than carry the bricks down by hand, I decided to lower them in a barrel by using a pulley that was attached to the side of the building at the sixth floor.

Securing the rope at ground level, I went up to the roof. I swung the barrel out and loaded the bricks into it. I then went down to the ground and untied the rope, holding it tightly to insure a slow descent of the brick. You will note in Block #2 of the accident report form that I weigh 135 lbs.

Due to my surprise in being jerked off the ground, I lost my presence of mind and did not let go of the rope. Needless to say, I proceeded at a rather rapid rate up the side of the building.

In the vicinity of the third floor, I met the barrel coming down. This explains my broken collar bone. Slowed only slightly, I continued my rapid ascent up the side of the building until the fingers on my right hand were two knuckles deep into the pulley six floors up. Fortunately, I had the presence of mind to hold on to the rope in spite of my pain.

At approximately the same time however, the barrel hit the ground, and the bottom came out of the barrel. Without the weight of the bricks, the barrel weighed approximately 50lbs. I refer you again to my weight in Block #2.

As you might imagine, I began a rapid descent down the side of the building. In the vicinity of the third floor, I again met the barrel coming up. This accounts for my fractured ankles and the lacerations on my lower body.

The encounter with the barrel slowed me down enough to lessen my injuries when I landed on the pile of bricks. As I lay there on the bricks in pain and unable to move, I let go of the rope. I was helpless to lay there and watch as the barrel came back down and broke my legs.

I hope I have furnished enough information to explain how the accident occurred.
It occurred because I was trying to do the job alone.

If you read our newsletter or the weekly “Life of the Church” in our Sunday bulletin; if you look at the many events and groups scheduled throughout the week which use our facility;  or if you just stop by almost anytime during the week and certainly on Sunday, you would see ministry and mission happening. 

But if we are honest we would also have to admit we’ve got some disciples who are pretty tired.  The reason isn’t they are trying to do it all by themselves, like our brick layer friend.  They aren’t.  There are others helping, but more are needed. 

As I shared Sunday God has gifted this congregation with all the gifts needed for ministry and mission to happen.  All the gifts necessary, not only for others to be blessed, but also enough so that everyone is blessed, including the person engaged in ministry and mission.  Enough so that all that we can envision God doing through us can be accomplished without leaving people on the way exhausted.  All that’s needed is for every one of us to use the gift God has given.

Prayerfully consider how you can be used by God in the coming year at WCPC!  If you don’t know how God has gifted you, try something that looks like it might be interesting or exciting.  Trial and error is a time honored method of discovery.

You are unique and your gift is needed.  Without you, without your gift being used, we are incomplete.

 

This Sunday our focus in on TREASURE.

Your pastor,

David Jones