Blog 3038 – 02.24.2024
Handy Man
In one of my favorite books and movies, Cider House Rules, Doctor Larch, trains orphan Homer Wells, to take his place and teaches him that one of the most important things in life is to be of use. As young people often do, Homer rebells against Dr. Larch’s plans for him and asks a ride of a young couple visiting the orphanage/hospital and uses his doctor trained hands to learn to pick apples with migrant workers.
Like the prodigal son, Homer does return to the orphanage/hospital to carry on the work he was trained for and spends his life as Doctor Larch had, being of use.
The James Taylor song that I sing today has long been a favorite of mine. It is a signature trait of men this wanting to fix things. Everything cannot be fixed and often people especially women are not looking to be fixed, but just listened to and allowed to find their own answers by talking things out and sharing their feelings. Sometimes the handiest most useful thing a man or woman can do is suspend work and judgement and just listen.
Another of my favorite books by Taylor Caldwell, The Listener, tells the story of a carpenter who liked to fix things with his hands and though an excellent speaker learned that his true calling as a Handy Man was as a listener, “a very present help in time of trouble.”
The actor John Wayne often played a strong male lead of few words. I recall the two-word preface to several of his most pithy lines “Listen, Pilgrim.”
Your friend and fellow pilgrim ever trying to be of use,
David White
Handy Man
theencouragingword 