I had no idea what he was doing. I happened to walk in and found him standing
there like that, just about a foot off the ground. I believe he was a little
embarrassed at first, but he took the time to explain it to me.
"I have some decisions to make," he said.
"Okay, but what were you doing?" I asked.
"I was doing what my grandfather taught me to do."
"Look like a fool?" I asked.
He laughed a little, shook his head and told me this great story.
"When I a just a little boy, my grandparents had to help raise me. Mom worked
full time and was going to school at night to become a nurse. My father had died
just after I was born. So my grandfather took on the role of the man in my
life," he said.
I watched his face as he got further into this story. It glowed with pride and
satisfaction. It appeared that his grandfather did a good job, for my friend
smiled through most of our conversation.
"Grandfather made this stool for me so I could reach things on the counter and
watch him in his workshop as he worked with wood. Growing up was a challenge. In
case you haven't noticed I'm not very tall, only 5 foot 8. Not that it's all
that short, but it bothered me even when I was young.
The stool represented hope.
Whenever I was faced with big decisions, whenever I was feeling low, whenever I
felt afraid, he'd pull out the stool and place it in front of me.
He'd say, 'Sometimes we need to step up to the challenge and step out in faith!'
It made me feel like I could accomplish anything."
"So even as an adult...?" I began to ask.
"Yes, yes...even as an adult I still use it. I know it's silly. I know I must
look foolish standing here like this. But..." he said.
"Not at all, my friend," I said. "When people ask me questions about a problem
they are having, I always tell them to try to see the challenge from a different
perspective. It's difficult to remove yourself from a problem. But a simple
thing like this can help. To rise above it all gives you a new view and suddenly
the challenge doesn't seem so big."
"So, I don't look foolish?" He asked me.
"Well, maybe a little. But sometimes faith requires you to appear the fool in
eyes of those who have no faith. What they see at first as foolish becomes a
sign of strength they long for over time. Your grandfather was right," I said.
Then moving him off the stool, I took his place and said..."Sometimes we need to
step up to the challenge and step out in faith!"
Bob Perks Bob@BobPerks.com
The Illustrator: This daily newsletter is dedicated to encouraging
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