The old barn was not much to look at; it was made from the rough cut timber of a saw mill.  No expensive lumber and only the cheapest materials were used in its construction.  And as I walked through its hall I knew that this was not a show place, but a place were lots of work and work materials were kept.  Tools were hung from nails driven into the walls and it was on one of these nails that this crescent wrench hangs.  Like the barn that housed it this adjustable wrench was not the expensive kind, instead it was one you were not afraid to use, abuse and get dirty as you go about the work of a farm.

        This wrench is not a modern marvel of high-tech sophistication; it has no digital readout and it requires no electricity to operate.  This tool is often misused, causing excess wear, dings, dents and distortions.  Why?  Because it is so versatile; who needs a hammer when you have this fellow near? And you don’t need a large tool box to house all your other wrenches.  If this wrench were a Doctor he would be a general practitioner and not a specialist.  But one thing you can definitely say about our old buddy Mr. Wrench, he is good to have around because he is so handy.

        Mr. Wrench sounds like somebody that would make a good friend; not overly concerned with appearances, always eager to lend a helping hand, doesn’t bother him to get a little dirty and adjustable is his middle name.  I am beginning to wish I was more like Mr. Wrench.  Too often I worry about appearances, schedules and who will get the credit to be much help to those around me.  Or I am too afraid I am not the best at something, so I attempt to excuse my responsibility away, saying somebody else could do a better job; all the while, the need goes unmet.

        Our business is not to one day do a great service to those in distant lands, but to do what lays clearly at hand.  Trust God for great things; with your five loaves and two fishes, he will show you a way to feed thousands.  But it all must begin today; serve someone today, meet the need of someone today, be helpful, be useful, be kind to those you meet today.  Remember, the Lord does not do anything with us, only through us.

Something to think about:

• The smallest good deed is better than the grandest good intention.

• If I cannot do great things, I can do small things in a great way.

• Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.

• Kindness is love in work clothes.

• The best portions of a good man’s life are his little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and love.

• I expect to pass through life but once. If therefore, there be any kindness that I can show, or any good thing I can do to any fellow being, let me do it now, and not defer or neglect it, as I shall not pass this way again.

• God isn’t interested in how many talents we have—he’s interested in how we are using the talent we have.

The general practitioner in the barn
Rickey Moore