Life Lessons Part 4

I was looking forward to the summer after my 16^th birthday.  At 16, I could unload trucks at Pier 91 and earn $3.00 an hour (almost as much as my Dad made).  This would be a real job; not paper route money.

I explained my plans to an adult friend, Gene Joyce.  He was very quiet for a moment.  Then he said, “Well, you could do that.  But you should really learn a trade; something that will stick with you.”

It really wasn’t the advice I was looking for but I respected his counsel.  Construction was booming and he got me on as a helper with Hatch Electric.  They wired houses.  They assigned me to the meanest journeyman in the shop (Ken Stefenson).  He told me he didn’t like working with helpers.  He had sent the last four home crying.  If I couldn’t cut it, he would make me sit in the truck and stay out of his way.  I worked my head off that day, and through the rest of the week just to prove myself.

I was excited to receive my first pay check.  $1.25 an hour!  Minimum wage!  I was crest fallen.  Had I made a mistake?  Maybe I should have gone to Pier 91.

Ken took me aside and explained how things work in the real world, and how this was the first step in a career journey.  And so it was.  “Two roads diverged in a wood, and I – I took the one less traveled by.  And that has made all the difference.” (Robert Frost)  This was my “road less traveled.”  Psalm 37:23 says "The steps of a man are established by the Lord, and He delights in his way."  So it was. And here's one more bit of wisdom: “When you come to a fork in the road, take it!”  (Yogi Berra)

And the rest of the story:  As the days went by, Ken would teach me to do the splices for outlets, switches and lights.  When I finally did it right, he would nod and say, “Okay.  Good.  Now, next time do it faster.”  He ended almost every instruction that way.  And I continued learning and working faster.  A year later, I overheard Ken talking to another electrician.  He told him that I was the best apprentice he’d ever had.  More likely, I was the only one that ever survived more than a couple days.  Though he was as old as my Dad, we became friends.  Over the years, as I moved on in my career, things went full circle and, in time, Ken actually came to work for me!  What did I learn?  Choices come in many forms, and the one with the most window dressing isn’t necessarily the best one.  Also, listen to the wisdom of men that I respect.  Gene’s suggestion was the least desirable but wisest in the long run.  Ken’s counsel was sage, even though it was discouraging at the time.  Proverbs 5:1 says, "My son, give attention to my wisdom. Incline your ear to my understanding."

Growing up, the only religion I knew was Jehovah’s Witnesses.  (More about that later.)  Their world view was very narrow.  They strongly discouraged extracurricular activities, external friendships and higher education.  I realized early on that high school was the only education I would have.

As a junior, I was assigned to Mr. Wigington for English.  Groan!  The toughest teacher in the whole school!  I had heard horror stories about him.  I tried to get out of his class, but the guidance counselor told me to hang on for a week or two and give it a chance.  Reluctantly I attended class.  He started talking.  It seemed he was going around in circles and not making any sense.  He went on and on for three classes making random references to Burgess, Hemingway, Steinbeck, Dickens, Beowolf (who was that?), Fitzgerald, Poe, Aristotle, Gilgamesh (who?).  It made no sense.  In fact, we joked about it behind his back.  What on earth was he talking about?  This is so dumb and boring.  I want out. 

Helen Keller's "aha!" moment in the film The Miracle Worker, 1962

On the third day, he made some references to art, science, technology, politics and religion.  It was then I had my Helen Keller moment, my “ah-ha” moment.  Suddenly, I was connecting the dots.  All the disciplines (art, science, politics, economics, religion) were connected and interdependent.  They didn’t stand alone in a vacuum.  I realized that I had been looking at the world through a straw.  Now the blinders were removed.  The world was huge, dynamic and overwhelming.  I was being educated!

What did I learn?  Sometimes I need to walk around the barn before I look inside.  (Prov. 1:4 - To give prudence to the naive, to the youth knowledge and discretion.)  Blinders might be good for horses, but not so much for people or for me.  (Matt. 7:5 - take the log out of your own eye . . . )

The rest of the story:  Mr. Wigington became my favorite teacher.  I chose him for Senior English and also Humanities.  I stayed in touch with him after he retired.  He gave me sage advice when my world was crashing down around me.  Again, on my road less traveled, his advice “made all the difference.” 

Photo Credit - Electrical Socket - Greg Rosenke on Unsplash