I recently started woodworking.

I don’t know what brought it on other than the need to create something with my hands. Thanks to my generous family, I got a load of new tools for Christmas: a nail gun, table saw, miter saw, bar clamps, and more.

My parents came to our neck of the woods for Christmas, and we spent two days building workbenches for me and my son, who is also enjoying this new hobby.

My dad has done woodwork for as long as I can remember. While some kids played in sand boxes, I played in sawdust in his woodshed. Fast forward 30 years and here I am with my dad shopping for tools, hardware, and lumber.

My father-in-law is letting me use the feed room (which is rarely used) as my little shop. We set up the miter and table saw…which, I’ll admit, were both pretty intimidating. But my dad is a good and patient teacher and it didn’t take long before I was mitering the heck out of the miter saw. I’m still getting used to the table saw, though.

With my jeans covered in sawdust, a tool belt around my waist, measuring 2×4 cuts, and power drilling, I felt a connection to two men in my life. My dad and Jesus.

As I chiseled out uneven corners, I thought of Jesus doing the same thing. He was probably chiseling stone more so than wood, but either way He created with His hands.

The King of the world, through whom the universe was created, chose to humble Himself by being born in a cave and placed in a feeding trough meant for animals. This humble King grew up to continue creating for the benefit of others as a carpenter, feeling the pain of splinters, sharp corners, and hand cramps. Truly human, yet truly God.

I felt the weight of the hammer as I pierced nails into the pine wood and was reminded of His humble and selfless death. The wooden cross, the hammer, and the nails. He did that for me. He willingly carried my cross up the rock of Calvary where He was pierced, where He suffered, and where He died… for me.

The crucified carpenter.

My mind doesn’t have the capability to imagine the perfection of Heaven, but there a certain things I can hope for. I hope there is a woodshed, a place where I can continue to build alongside my dad and our King.

Songs for Times Such as These:

• “Jesus Was a Carpenter” by Johnny Cash
• “Humble King” by Vineyard Worship
• “How Beautiful Heaven Must Be” by George Jones

Scripture for Times Such as These:

• John 1: 3
• Luke 2: 7
• Philippians 2: 7-8