One of the classes we had to take back in the stone age — along with Brontosaurus hunting and cooking — was a rotation in how to adult. They ran it for several years to make sure it stuck. A couple of those years, a nine-week turn included wood shop.

Basics. Taught to 7th and 8th graders so you could run a sharp object without siftin’ the sawdust afterward to see if a part of you was in it. (Fail that, and you got to try the other class. Health.)

Mr. Underwood taught the shop, and he was awesome. So much so that I applied to be one of his assistants my 9th-grade year, elective, so I could keep learnin’ under him. Important stuff. Measure twice, cut once. You’ve cut that board seven times and it’s still too short. You’re never in too much of a hurry to do somethin’ twice.

The rest of the school was passin’ out plenty of knowledge. Mr. Underwood sat on that stool of his and passed out somethin’ just as valuable. Wisdom. Reminds me of another carpenter I think we all know.

Joseph raised a boy in the trade — wood or stone, folks still argue, the wisdom doesn’t. Later that carpenter took up His heavenly calling and shared a wisdom that built more than any of us could see.

Just a thought from a guy lucky enough to still measure twice before he cuts once, and still tryin’ to follow his heavenly Carpenter.

Bible Verses

Proverbs 11 / Mark 6:1-6

Questions

Any teacher who really made a difference in your life?