John Keats emotional and heart filled words blended into a beautiful letter while staying at a summer cottage. These words and gifts of poetry have been debated in English Literature Classes for years. His tender Poems are iconic in literature. Students would be assigned and still are encouraged to draw their own conclusions as they search for the true meaning and exact interpretation of what Mr. Keats met as he penned these words on July 3, 1819….
…“Ask yourself my love whether you are not very cruel to have so entrammelled me, so destroyed my freedom. Will you confess this in the Letter you must write immediately, and do all you can to console me in it—make it rich as a draught of poppies to intoxicate me—write the softest words and kiss them that I may at least touch my lips where yours have been. For myself I know not how to express my devotion to so fair a form: I want a brighter word than bright, a fairer word than fair. I almost wish we were butterflies and liv’d but three summer days—three such days with you I could fill with more delight than fifty common years could ever contain. But however selfish I may feel, I am sure I could never act selfishly: as I told you a day or two before I left Hampstead, I will never return to London if my Fate does not turn up Pam or at least a Court-card. Though I could centre my Happiness in you, I cannot expect to engross your heart so entirely—indeed if I thought you felt as much for me as I do for you at this moment I do not think I could restrain myself from seeing you again tomorrow for the delight of one embrace.” -John Keats, Poet 1819
Have you ever met a woman who loved her tools more than diamonds?
Before she was married she had the following conversation with a gentleman she was was dating. When the man said, “So I want to hang these curtains.” Her immediate response which surprised him was, “Cool. Grab your drill and let’s get to work.” He was terribly embarrassed and replied, “I don’t have a drill.” She sighed and said, “Oh, Well then. I will go home and come back with mine.” Later she returned with both arms full of tools containing her beloved Milwaukee cordless drill with two charged batteries and several sizes of bits and driver attachments, a stud finder, a box of screws and a tube of spackle, just in case it would be needed. As he opened the door she was already moving toward the first window to hang a curtain. Already fully focused on the job ahead her demeanor beamed with excitement, “Okay, let’s see if it’s a stud or if we’re going to need some anchors.” You could clearly tell that he was baffled and did not know the first thing about using tools let alone hanging curtains. Needless to say, it didn’t work out and the hanging of the curtains brought a close to their relationship.
Today, after decades of marriage to man who also loved tools she finds herself with more tools than any fine carpenter shop, mechanical shop or auto repair garage in the county. She thinks it is just awesome. Every tool is cared for and each tool is polished and in it’s place. She likes being handy herself in recent years as a very active widow knowing she can still build it, fix it, install it, or replace it. Life is good. Using her tools makes her feel like an accomplished woman. It’s empowering. She is the butterfly and these are her tools!
I Kings 6:7 records, “And the house, when it was in building, was built of stone made ready at the quarry; and there was neither hammer nor axe nor any tool of iron heard in the house, while it was in building”.
When King Solomon built the temple there was no tool of iron to be used inside or even heard within the temple while it was being built. It is hard to even imagine how quiet the construction of the temple actually was. Everything was cut and shaped before it could be placed within the building.
For those who loved their tools and were gifted craftsman their experienced hands carefully guided their tools. The unprecedented skills that God had given them helped King Solomon build the temple to the glory of God.
The church today is being built by men and women who love their tools and the gifts that God has given them. Each experience gained through life has sharpened both their skills and tools to teach inspiring Sunday School classes, captivating weeks of VBS, children’s choirs and serve in countless other ways. They have learned to use the tools available to them with compassion to reach those who are hurting or to put their arms around those who just need a hug. The countless hours making food and taking it bereaved families calls for just the right tool. Sharing the truth of the gospel in caring and loving ways demands the right tool at the right time. All show clearly the love for Christ exhibited by every skilled hand and perfected tool used at just the right moment. At times the work is loud as the tools ring out in constructing lives. At times the tools are silent and the work comes from the heart sharing the love of the living Christ that calms a fear and brings peace to a raging storm.
The church must also be aware of it’s responsibility to care for the widows and the fatherless children. The challenge for each of us is to faithfully use what God has placed in our hands as a tool to meet the needs of others and point them to Christ.
Mr Keats used the tool of his pen to write a beautiful love letter. The young woman used her tools to hang curtains. The craftsmen built the Temple under the direction of God and King Solomon. The church women worked tirelessly to see the love of Christ impact others with the tools of their ministry. We must never forget the butterfly whose life was changed from a caterpillar crawling on a leaf, wrapped within a webbed cocoon, and then transformed to new heights by flying high in the sky above. Never forget that you are a tool in the hand of God! Teach others to soar in their newly birthed spiritual life. You too will find that your tools are awesome and that you are fulfilled and capable in your life because the hand of God is upon you. Your work is more precious than diamonds!
Paul Sisson
TREASURES FOR THE HEART 