Priorities for Wood Turners
This past weekend we celebrated arguably the most important event in the Christian Faith, the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ at Easter. Our family came together at Grandma and Grandpa’s house to share a meal, fellowship and catch up in general. As the patriarch of this robust and growing family it was a special time for me. Grandma went totally overboard as she usually does and presented another meal fit for a king’s court. She’s like that.
Other than a few questions about the woodworking show season, there was a distinct absence of discussion about turning wood. Conversations mostly centered on jobs, school, new husbands, new houses, adult children facing important decisions and great grandchildren who will be here soon. Not one member of my family just got a new lathe or bowl gouge. No one showed up with a newly turned hollow form.
Instead, they had been busy with school and jobs like everyone else whose hobby isn’t woodturning. It is easy to forget that most of the rest of the world doesn’t care much about our super power – that is turning a shapeless lump of wood into something useful or beautiful or both. It really surprised me to learn a few years ago that 95% of the wood turners I meet, don’t ever sell the turned items they make. Oh, they might sell the occasional pen or bowl or bottle stopper, but mostly they give their stuff away. When they do sell something it is almost always for far less than the actual value.
Woodturning for the vast majority of us is a hobby, like golf or fishing. It is fun to be sure, but its importance needs to be kept in perspective. Where we will spend eternity is most important, followed by our other halves and the rest of our family. We need to invest time energy and, yes, money in the things (people) that matter in the long run. Hobbies are what we do in our spare time as a diversion from what we do the rest of the time. Realizing that turning wood is a great hobby is a good start in helping us to set and keep our priorities accurately.
When someone is hungry, food is an important priority. When they are thirsty something to drink is in the front of their mind. If someone is sick or in pain, that is about all they can think about and relief is high on their priority list. Sometimes when your spouse is lonely, what they really need is your attention and companionship. I would encourage you to keep what we do in perspective so that as we strive to serve others we understand life from their perspective and be sensitive to their needs. Because wherever you go, there you are.
Here is my inspiration for this week’s message.
Matt 25:35-36 NIV For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.
Psalm 68:6 NIV God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.
1 Corinthians 11:11 MSG Neither man nor woman can go it alone or claim priority. Man was created first, as a beautiful shining reflection of God - that is true. But the head on a woman's body clearly outshines in beauty the head of her "head," her husband.
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Just so you know, here is a partial list of the items we make right in our own shop in Atlanta, Georgia, USA:
Amazing Doughnut Chucks, Amazing Bucket Caddy, Universal Setting Jig, Quad Setting Jig, Golden Mean Calipers, Indexing Wheels, Laser Cut Kits and Inlays, Gluing Guides for Laser Cut Kits, Made By Medallions for your work, Gouge SetUp Blocks, Angle Gauge SetUp Blocks, How-To DVD's 100% produced and published in-house
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Made By Medallions Identify your work
This year, mark your treasures with a professionally created wooden "Made By Medallion" available in 1" and 1-1/4" disks with your name and information. Cut from 1/8" Baltic Birch, you simply drill a shallow recess with a Forstner bit and glue it permanently in place. Those who receive your treasure know exactly who made it and if you wish, how to contact you.
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