I do much of my creating in this she
shed space and the time spent there has come with unexpected insights.
My neighbors are doing significant
outside additions and renovations. They’ve had a string of workers coming and
going over the past few months—roofers,
carpenters, excavators among them. My building is close to the work area, but far
enough away that I mostly don’t hear anything but muffled words and an
occasional shout. Sadly, a couple of times it's been loud enough to hear gruff exchanges.
Then one recent day our doorbell rang, and when we opened the door, our friend Kent
stood there. “Just letting y’all know I’m doing the stonework on the screened porch
next door,” he said.
Jerry and I
have known Kent for years. He and I were members of a lay witness mission team
that went into dozens of churches over the years where we shared our testimonies.
And we were also part of another Christian community where we’d run into
each other. His family business is legendary for their extraordinary stone and brick
work.
After we
shared life for a while, Kent went back to work, and it seemed from the minute he
did, the atmosphere changed. The word I would use to characterize this change
is joy. It just seemed if he was there, laughter rang out from morning til
night. That’s not to say a ton of work didn’t get done. Literally. I’d look
over there and the big stones piles were going down daily as he created stone
walls and a fireplace. I guess he subscribes to the “whistle while you work” philosophy.
I noticed at
the end of the day, I felt uplifted myself even though I had no idea what was
being said—just the cackling over there boosted me. I have a character in one
of my books a lot like Kent. The character is often prone to tell dad jokes,
but people laugh not because of the jokes, but because of his giggling. That’s
much the way it is with our friend. We crack up because he is.
While
reading Proverbs, I came across a verse in chapter twenty-seven that seemed to speak to this, “As water
reflects the face, so one’s life reflects the heart.” Kent has a heart of joy
and that is reflected in his life wherever he goes—whether he’s giving a
testimony in church or laying a stone in someone’s backyard.
Who knows
what the effect of his being here had? Maybe the other neighbors noticed the
difference in the sounds coming from next door, too.
God calls
us to make a difference wherever we are. We don’t all have the same gifts, but God
has given each of us something to leave behind in every circumstance—it could
be kindness, compassion, wisdom, encouragement, mercy, love . . . the list goes
on. God could use any of these to draw others closer to himself.
I’m kind of
sad about the renovations ending because I’ll miss the joyful noise over there.
However, I’m glad for once again seeing how much our lives can affect others
even when we’re not aware.
Thanks for
the reminder, Kent.
Beverly Varnado is the author of several small town romances from Anaiah Press including her latest, A Season for Everything. All are available at Amazon. A memoir, Faith in the Fashion District, from Crosslink Publishing is available wherever books are sold. Also consider her other books, Give My Love to the Chestnut Trees and Home to Currahee. She also has an Etsy Shop, Beverly Varnado Art.
To explore the web version of One Ringing Bell, please visit bev-oneringingbell.blogspot.com
Beverly Varnado copyright 2021