The Master Carpenter

"The most dangerous notion a young man can acquire is that there is no more room for originality. [The truth is that] there is no large room for anything else." – Henry Ford

I couldn’t agree more with Henry Ford’s sentiments in today’s quote and yet, ironically, his introduction of the modern assembly line led to more automation and less craftsmanship. Gone were the days when a single employee – or a small group of workers laboring together – saw a project through from start to finish. Now, one man would weld the chassis, another would install the engine, and yet another would add the seats and upholstery. Driving rivets, painting exteriors, and inflating tires became specialized… and isolated… jobs.

My father-in-law, Dean Truax, spent most of his adult life as a self-employed contractor. After working for a few years as an airplane mechanic at Fairchild Industries in Hagerstown MD, he decided to go into business for himself. Occasionally, he would hire a part-time helper to assist him with a large project, but Dean usually preferred to work alone, mostly because he was a perfectionist and maintained very high standards.

In his spare time, Dean built a single-seat airplane from scratch in his basement, the finishing touch being the installation of a Volkswagen engine. He later sold that plane, which now sits in a museum at the Hagerstown Regional Airport, in order to buy a four-seater Cessna. When his hanger was flooded – not once, but twice – Dean disassembled, cleaned, and reassembled each and every part.

Wanting a new challenge, Dean later sold his award-winning Cessna to buy a Europa kit-built plane. Along the way, he also constructed garages, sheds, and a playhouse for his two daughters. As a master carpenter, Dean also crafted guitars, Lazy Susans, cutting boards, and countless other items and even served as the general contractor on his own house.

I imagine that Dean felt a deep sense of satisfaction every time he completed a project… and a real sense of anticipation as he prepared to begin the next one. We would do well to model a similar zest for everything we do in life: whether it is our job, a hobby, or a ministry that God has given us to accomplish for His glory.

“And whatever you do, in word or deed, do it all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God the Father through Him.” Colossians 3:17 (BSB)

- Rev. Dale M. Glading, President