~ Mark Gibson
I work in the service sector. My main work involves the maintenance and repair of all major building systems. You might call me a Building Engineer. A few weeks before Christmas, as I was walking through the medical building, I noted that the medical staff still had a broken shoe rack in their closet. As things were finally slowing down a bit for the Christmas break, I approached the office manager and asked her if she would like me to repair the unit. She gave me an odd look and asked, “You can repair it?!?” I replied to her, “Anything… can be repaired.” Confidently, I packed the unit onto my cart and took it to my workshop/furniture hospital for repair. Actually, I didn’t know if I had the correct materials yet to do the job. I was hoping to replace the entire top board with a new piece but no piece would fit. I did however find a suitable piece to put below the broken one. This is called “sistering” in the trade. So, with some cutting, gluing, and four screws later, the unit was ready to go back into service. An hour later, I was returning the unit to the closet and was met by the manager, and she exclaimed, “You’re a miracle worker!” I said, “Please, it was nothing. Please read the tag attached.” For fun, I attached a tag that read “Repairy Christmas! From the Maintenance Department!” We both got a good laugh..
If you are reading this and were wondering what to give someone this Christmas, maybe they need a “Repairy Christmas”.
For the handy, this may take shape in a small repair you have been meaning to do for someone who are unable to fix something themselves.
For the creative, this may take shape as making the time to craft a card to someone who may be lonely or to a friend you haven’t been in contact with for some time.
For the daring (and this one is for believers and unbelievers alike) it could mean being repairing broken relationships. This one could start with a phone call, text, email, or written note. Always remember, the word repair comes from the French word which means to make proper or functional again…. functional, not PERFECT..
Well, a small repair job has led to some bigger reflections. If something can be created, then it can also be repaired. The right balance of material, care, and time are involved in both processes. The key, however, to a successful repair job is not only going back to HOW something was made but also to WHO made it. As God sent His Son into the world, He sent Him to repair a broken world…and praise God, He can repair! No matter what your situation, the problems you can repair, or the problems He can see and repair for you, have a Repairy Christmas!