I have this hobby—a passion, perhaps—for restoring battered and broken chairs, scraping off layers of paint and crud down to original wood, gluing, filling nail holes, repairing, rasping, sanding from coarse to fine grit, appropriately staining the wood (e. g., walnut, oak, cherry), reassembling, and then applying clear finish coats until abused, discarded, and humiliated chairs recover the beauty, dignity, and utility intended by their maker.

It’s a parable of redemption! It’s how God works in our lives, if we (and others) let Him. It’s a greater passion to be a tool in the Master’s hands. Jesus’ touch restores penitent people, sometimes using our hands, words, and labor to restore what’s been battered, broken, and discarded.

The pictures below illustrate what can be done for chairs, and people, if with discerning eye one works patiently, carefully, and compassionately.

Hear this word of Scripture: “Brothers and sisters, if someone is caught in a sin, you who live by the Spirit should restore that person gently. But watch yourselves, or you also may be tempted.” Galatians 6: 1 (TNIV))

And another: “. . .because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions — it is by grace you have been saved. . . . For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” Read Ephesians 2: 1-10(TNIV)

Peace and joy!

Arthur