All About the Tools

I’ve often said the success of a project depends on the availability of proper tools.

I’ve been trying to figure out how to sew a carrying case for a vaulting pole. Because some math has been involved, it’s taken me longer than I intended. Thankfully, I hadn’t packed up the needed tools for this project.

My cutting table and Olfa board are still in the house instead of the storage unit and will probably be some of the last things to move. The Olfa blade in its cutter was too dull to use, so I went searching for another. I couldn’t believe I had purchased so many of the wrong kinds of blades. Three sets of notched blades were found. They were labeled ‘quilting’ blades, and I have no idea what they are used for or how to use them. Finally, I found a fresh blade but didn’t start work.

My daddy always said, ‘Measure twice, cut once.’ Given my lack of mathematical skill, I have found it safer to measure somewhere between three times and a bajillion. As I struggled to mark a line for recutting the bag, I remembered the white chalk and even remembered where it was among the misplaced sewing supplies. Yay, me! Yay, God for helping me remember!!!

The strapping I need is already packed and only the good Lord knows where it is, so I bought a package that had strapping that I was able to salvage. It is totally the wrong color, but whatever.

So I’ve got my tools, material, and the case ready to work on tomorrow. I figure today being Sunday, the day of rest and all, I’m going to think about the project one more day before I do anything too drastic. I seem to be long on tools and short on know-how.

I’m afraid it’s going to be a trial and error type process, and I need to find a needed tool – patience – before I take the final run at the case. I do know where my seam ripper is, so that will be available for inevitable mistakes. My sewing machines are ready. It’s my procrastination at this point that is slowing me down, but maybe I will suddenly be hit with the perfect solution to make the case perfectly. Or at least passable.

As I was thinking on tools, I got to thinking about how my personality is also a tool. Various parts of my personality toolkit include creativity, determination, and stubbornness to name a few. If I didn’t use my creativity, I would be bored to death. On the flip side of that trait, I wouldn’t be starting crazy projects like this one! My determination to see the project come to fruition usually turns out to be a positive attribute. I’ve often written about my stubbornness in a negative light. However, in this instance and in many others I can think of, it was sheer stubbornness that drove my crazy ideas forward to completion.

As I often critique myself on things in my life I need to change, I was encouraged by this project to see a different perspective. 1 Peter 4:10 says, ‘ Each of you should use whatever gift you have received to serve others, as faithful stewards of God’s grace in its various forms.’ How can I use my stubbornness to serve others?

Romans 12 talk about God transforming us so that we may ‘learn to know God’s will … which is good and pleasing and perfect.’ He admonishes us to be honest in self-evaluation, realize our role in the body of believers, be encouragers and givers who take God’s gifting seriously and responsibly. The last verse of the chapter talks of overcoming evil with good. May the Lord help me to overcome the negative traits and turn them into tools for blessing others.

Blessings

Kara Beth