When our family moved to Texas in 1963, we began pastoring a neat little church in the Panhandle. After a few months, the pastor of First Baptist left town. There was no connection between these two events! (g)

     Pastor Jack had been chaplain of the volunteer fire department. The chief came to my office one day and asked me if I’d take over the job of chaplain. I told him that I would, but only IF they would allow me to become a full-fledged fireman. They agreed. Thus began ten of the happiest years of my life. I loved being a fireman. Several summers I went to Texas A&M to undergo training at a firefighting school. From early childhood, I’d always wanted to be a fireman. As you can see from the graphic, my first four wheel pedal toy was a fire truck! (g)

     Now, let’s shift gears and go forward a couple of years. Our family purchased a boat. It was a sixteen foot Thompson made out of wood. It took lots of upkeep to insure that it always looked shiny and beautious. It was a lso a very heavy boat and only had a 60 horsepower outboard motor on it.

     We had a little lake on the edge of town. We’d take Miss Kikapoo down once in awhile and put her in the water. I’d try to give people a chance to ski behind her, but if they were very big, the boat wouldn’t pull them out of the water.

     One day, I was trying to ski for the very first time. I drank a lot of fairly polluted water, but couldn’t begin to get up on the skis. Suddenly, I looked up and there was our fire chief. He had a fiberglass boat with a huge motor on it. He offered to let me ski behind his boat. I readily and wholeheartedly agreed.

     Chief Mac gave me a few hints about water skiing. Perhaps the most important instruction was that when I was ready to quit skiing, I should signal this fact to him. He would then swing into the little bay and I would let go of the rope at the appropriate time and triumphantly glide toward the sandy shore.

     Well, everything went well for quite awhile. I made several sweeps around the lake, waving at family and friends. Then came the time to end my stint on the skis. As the Chief swept into the bay, I held on to the ski ropes until what I thought was the proper moment. However, my judgment was clouded by my desire to continue skiing until the last possible moment.

     When I finally let go, I was dangerously close to the beach. My skis stopped the instant they hit the rocky sand. I didn’t! (g) I rolled and tumbled up the beach for many yards. Believe me, I paid for that mistake in judgment with road rash, bruises, sore muscles, etc. for several days. Everyone laughed and cheered, perhaps thinking that this was a deliberate show of my acrobatic ability. Duh!

     I believe there are lots of lessons in this story from my past. Would you share those things the Lord brings to your mind as you’ve read this piece? I’d like to hear from you. I answer all my e-mail promptly.

Responses to "DUCT TAPE FOREVER"...

- Neat story, Jerry! As I was reflecting on your story and comments, I began to wonder what serves the purpose of duct tape in our spiritual lives? What is it that can fix almost anything, withstand tremendous force applied against it, last forever, and be so versatile that its uses never run out? I wonder if love has ever been compared to duct tape before! The next time I have a problem that can't be fixed with a length of the magic sticky silver stuff, I'm going to reflect on whether some spiritual duct tape would help.

- Oh, Jerry, that was a good one. I use duct tape for everything. I don't know what I ever would have done without it. I have always had to fix everything myself and I know that it works. Haha! I'm still laughing thinking about Jesus using duct tape.

- Oh, Jerry, this one is a riot. It's my Uncle's saying exactly!!! He always said that you've GOT to have duct tape around because it fixes 90% of the things that are broken. hehehehee........This made me think of him, God rest his soul. As far as our wonderful Father in Heaven goes??? I think that is why HE invented Duct Tape!!!!!......hehehehe........God bless, and thanks for another GREAT one!

- When I rode my hand cycle in the TREK across Maine 180 miles for the American Lung Asso last June, the 2nd day it poured rain all day. Under my bike gloves were blisters on blisters. The next morning I was not going to put on damp gloves over those blisters, so I duct taped both hands and finished the TREK. I don't think that is listed on the manufacturers spec sheet. (g)

- Oh, dear, a tear in your eye. I am wondering if one day I will have similar problems. So much to pray about.

     I dunno.... I think prayer and casting my cares on Jesus is my "duct tape" these days. Helps hold me together. We are always stronger after being "broken" aren't we? When we finally bounce back.

     I like duct tape, twist ties, velcro, big paperclips and rubber bands (okay, they don't last forever). I adore pushpins, safety pins, and tacky glue. A book makes a good way to hold up a computer stand whose caster broke & fell off. I've used tin cans (spray painted black) for a replacement leg on two pieces of furniture so far. Make do with what we have...?

- I've fixed a multitude of things with duct tape! I don't know many people who haven't! Any "handy person" has at least used it a few times. I like to think that God uses duct tape....the duct tape of the Bible. Sometimes, just one verse in the Bible sticks and holds us together until we get through terrible ordeals that leave us feeling run down and run over. Don't you love how duct tape is sooooooooooooo sticky? That is the way that God's word is...it sticks to us and binds up our heart so we can heal and get through it.

- Like you, our home would probably fall apart without duct tape... smiles... it is such a miracle thing that we all take for granted... and it really patches things up... my latest use for it was on an old yard rake that the end had broken off... out come the duct tape... making it whole again...and just like that rake being able to be used again, so can a Christian be used by the Lord again, whether He uses duct tape or some other miracle item to heal a person who desperately needs His touch...

     God bless you, Jerry, for such insightful writings... I truly enjoy them, even if i don’t get to write each time...

- Great image with the tree bro! We just had our first serious snowfall here with wet heavy snow, and a young apple tree (about 15 feet tall and quite wide) suffered greatly from it. It hadn't lost its leaves yet, so it was flattened by the weight of the snow. When I examined it, I found that the burden of snow had split the trunk almost in two. I brushed the snow off, and God supplied the warm sunshine (relatively since it was still -10 C ) and in a few hours it was standing tall again, although the scar of the split will always show. Thanks for your love of God!

- Just read the Inside Out and my husband, like you, uses duct tape for a lot of things. Wish he could use it on my left knee, which we learned today will have to have surgery, sooner rather than later.

     I will pray that your eye repairs itself and you do NOT have to have surgery. God knows HIS own business is what my grandmother (a real good Christian Southern lady) always said, so I know you will just trust Him in this.