[Article by Conejo member, Nathan Eng.]
One of my COVID lockdown activities involved taking up hand-tool woodworking. One of my first projects was a compact low Roman-style workbench, which is a sturdy sitting bench with additional slots and pins. The ancient design presents a fascinating contrast to how things are done today:
- Simplicity drives the design. The Roman bench uses wedges and one’s body weight instead of difficult to craft screw clamps.
- It minimizes the use of precious materials. Wooden tool bodies enclose a few easily-maintained flat steel edges that are used for years. Nothing is disposable.
- The body is part of the work. Sitting and kneeling positions hold parts in place and align muscles with cutting motions.
- Skills replace commodities. The basic equipment enables the crafting of additional tools as needed. There’s a virtuous cycle: the more you make, the more you can make.
At some point in this journey, it dawned on me that Jesus, working as a carpenter in his youth, possibly used the same technology. It was a startling connection: the work of my hands was very literally mirroring the work of His hands. The Bible frequently refers to Jesus’ hands in divine work; from a gentle healing touch to forcefully flipping tables. This is different. It is the kind of mundane, everyday labor that comes with being human. It’s worth remembering how even this humble work can serve His plan.
Growing up in the Catholic Church, hands figured prominently in the Eucharist celebration. The preparation of the Eucharist included the phrase: “Blessed are you, Lord God of all creation, for through your goodness we have received the bread we offer you: fruit of the earth and work of human hands, it will become for us the bread of life.” During the ceremony, we exchange the Sign of Peace (often a hand shake) with neighbors in the pews as a reminder that making peace is a constant activity. No matter the things that divide us, it is possible to begin to bridge that gap with Grace embodied in a gesture.
Our congregation is fortunate to have a mix of intellectual and spiritual gifts as well as lots of opportunities to bless others with the work of our hands. As someone who spends a lot of time on the intellectual side, the above examples are reminders of how important it is to keep that balance. Much like the basic hand woodworking kit is a foundation to building ever more things, the work of our hands is as much a part of the Christian “toolkit” as our spiritual and intellectual gifts. When our words and cleverness seem to fall short, it might be time to pick up a chisel, break bread or shake a hand.
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