Over the last few weeks, carpentry has played a large part in the alterations they are doing on The Rectory at Blunham. Roof trusses, kitchen units, doors and door frames, and skirting boards have all been constructed and installed in the extension. It has reminded me that Jesus was the son of a carpenter, as referred to in a few places throughout the Gospels. Although we don’t gain much information from the Gospels about Jesus’ childhood, we can imagine that Jesus spent a lot of hours with his earthly father watching, helping and learning the trade of carpentry.
There would not have been colleges or schools where qualifications could be studied for, but it would have been the passing down of skills between father and son, and on to future generations that would have kept these skills alive. Some of the older trades are dying out because the present generation are not interested or there is not enough monetary reward; which is sad as those skills will be lost forever.
As we approach the seasons of Advent and Christmas and recall the birth of Jesus Christ, I hope that we can remember that, despite being the Son of God, his early years were spent as any child of the time would have spent them, learning and gaining experience of normal life. When we remember the ultimate sacrifice he paid on our behalf, we should also remember that he knows what ordinary everyday life is like, and that experience means that he can relate to all the situations we encounter along life’s journey. Jesus is one in whom we can trust knowing that he knows what we go through, and therefore can be alongside us through good times and bad.
With love, prayers and God’s blessing,
Revd Graham