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Trabajar en piedra... Working in stone...

2/27/2018

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"y al hueco de la cantera de donde fuisteis arrancados." Isaías 51:1
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​Luego de ver a mi hijo, Jeremy, terminar una pequeña remodelación en la cocina, felicito nuevamente a todos los que trabajan con piedra y concreto... gente trabajadora... la sal de la tierra.

Tomé mis turnos breves con mazo y cincel. Al ritmo que avanzaba, calculé que tardaría meses en terminar. Trabajar en piedra requiere pericia y una espalda fuerte. Se necesita casi todo lo que puedes dar.

Juzgando por las reliquias de civilizaciones pasadas, trabajar en piedra es una artesanía antigua. Los mascarones aun existentes en las ruinas mayas de Kojunlich, Q. Roo, son un ejemplo de su habilidad. ¿Cómo los hicieron? ¿Con qué herramienta? ¿Cuánta mano de obra?

Mi tío era cantero. Trabajaba en la cantera cerca de Sussex, Wisconsin. Me acuerdo de la fuerza que traía en sus manos. Además, era un excelente beisbolista. Ayudó a mi papá a reconstruir el muro de retención al lado norte de la casa en Wauwatosa. Yo colaboré con un tanto de palear y acarrear. Pero “Red” era él que sabía cual pieza usar y cómo colocarla. Su muro pasó la prueba del tiempo... nada fácil en una tierra de helar y deshelar perenne.

Hay aun otro grupo de artesanos cuyo medio es la piedra, igualmente merecedor de nuestro respeto y elogio. Normalmente los identificamos como nuestros pastores.

Mi paráfrasis de Isa. 51:1 es, "te acuerdas de la cantera de donde te cortaron? ¿Y de cuánto trabajo costó para arrancarte de ahí? Alguien te quiso muchísimo."

Cada vez que escucho el testimonio de un creyente nuevo, me pregunto: ¿dónde estaría yo, si no hubiera sido por un pastor fiel cincelando un pedazo indistinto de piedra como yo? No fue fácil sacarme. Yo creía que me hacían falta muchas cosas, pero nunca se me ocurrió que necesitaba a un cantero sobrenatural. ¿Era yo tan duro o tan muerto?

No suena muy alentador una comparación entre pastores y canteros. Pero sí lo es. Los pastores llevan a la práctica la confianza que le tienen a él que los llamó.

"Fiel es el que os llama, el cual también lo hará."  1 Thessalonians 5:24

Entienden que con el llamado viene también la capacitación. Desempeñan su labor confiadamente. Pues, su cincel no es nada menos que el Espíritu Santo.

Así que, nuestro medio es la piedra. Pero no consideramos que nuestro trabajo sea imposible. De hecho, nuestro éxito está garantizado. El Dios que creó la piedra la puede transformar en lo que quiera... cuando quiera.

“porque os digo que Dios puede levantar hijos a Abraham aun de estas piedras.” (Lu 3:8)

¡Levantémonos mañana con ánimo para dirigirnos nuevamente a la cantera!

"and to the quarry from which you were dug." Isaiah 51:1 

​After watching my son, Jeremy, finish a minor remodeling job in the kitchen, my hat is off to all who work in stone and concrete... hard working group of people... the salt of the earth.

I tried my hand for a few short spells with the hammer and chisel. At the rate I was going, I figured it would take a few months to finish. Stone work requires expertise and a strong back. It takes nearly everything you've got.

Judging by the relics of bygone civilizations, working in stone is an ancient craft. The extant stone masks in the Mayan archeological site at Kohunlich, Quintana Roo, Mexico are an example of such workmanship. How did they do it? With what tools? How many man hours?

My uncle was a stone cutter. He worked at the lannon stone quarry near Sussex, Wisconsin. I remember the strength in his hands. He was quite a baseball player, too. He helped Dad rebuild the retaining wall on the north side of our house in Wauwatosa. I did a little shoveling and hauling. But “Red” was the guy who knew which stone to use and how to lay each one. His wall stood the test of time... not an easy task in a land of perennial freezes and thaws.

There is yet another group of artisans whose medium is stone, equally worthy of our respect and accolades. We usually identify them as our pastors.

Greg's paraphrase of Isa. 51:1 is, "do you remember the quarry you were carved out of? And how much back breaking work it took to get you out? Someone had to want you really badly!"

Whenever I hear the testimony of a new believer, I think about where I would be had it not been for a faithful pastor chiseling away at an indistinct hunk of rock like me. I did not come easy. I thought I needed a lot of things, but it never occurred to me that I might need a supernatural stone cutter. Could I really have been that hard... or that dead?

It doesn't exactly sound encouraging comparing pastors to stone cutters. But it is. Pastors are living out their trust in the one who called them.

"He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it."  1 Thessalonians 5:24
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 They understand that his calling includes his enabling. They practice their trade confidently. You see, their chisel is nothing less than the Holy Spirit of God.

So, our medium is stone. But we don't consider our work to be impossible. In fact, our success is guaranteed. The God who created the stone can also change it to whatever he likes, whenever he wants.

“for I say unto you, That God is able of these stones to raise up children unto Abraham.” (Lu 3:8)

God help us to get out of bed tomorrow morning and, with a spring in our step, head back to the quarry!

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    Greg Smith

    Greg grew up near Milwaukee, WI. His ministry began in 1976: 5 years in Central America, 36 in Mexico. His passion is church planting and discipleship.
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    Greg rejoices in his recent marriage to Carol Ahola-Smith. Both have been missionaries (Japan and Mexico); both watched their mates precede them in death.
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    Together, they have a heart for writing, mentoring and teaching.  They enjoy long walks and good coffee.

    CAROL'S BLOG
    LIVINGTHEJOY.NET

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