What Now?

I am a woodworker who specializes mostly in turning wood. I love to invent widgets, to design all manner of related jigs fixtures and accessories and to teach and guide folks trying to unravel the mysteries of our craft. That is what I did last year and what I will do next year. I have irons in the fire right now that you may not hear about for a couple of more years. My hope is that these items will make turning wood easier and more enjoyable for many of you.

The sun came up on Nov 9th, and it shined on us all. The world didn’t come to an end. The American form of government embraces a representative republic and the people elect their president via the Electoral College system. Every 4 years most of us experience the same emotions when the votes are totaled and we hear the outcome. Sometimes our candidate wins, sometimes they lose. Like it or not, the POTUS is President over all of the people. Eisenhower was president when I was born. He was followed by Kennedy, Johnson, Nixon, Ford, Carter, Reagan, Bush 41, B. Clinton, Bush 43 and Obama. Next it will be Trump. Ours is not a perfect system, but it is a good system. It can be made better and my hope is that it will.

You are reading this note because we have been drawn together through our love of turning wood. That didn’t change on November 8th. I’m asking you to continue to build on that common bond not only with me but with other turners and woodworkers you may know regardless of their political or religious convictions. I would even ask you to overlook their choice of sports teams because wherever you go, there you are.

Here is my inspiration for this message:

Acts 3:25 NIV2

And you are heirs of the prophets and of the covenant God made with your fathers. He said to Abraham, ‘Through your offspring all peoples on earth will be blessed.’

Acts 22:15 NIV2

You will be his witness to all people of what you have seen and heard.