Shed

The other day my brother asked me if I could help him demolish a shed. I’m still not sure how I got talked into this, but on Thursday I joined him in tearing down the shed pictured above. What we thought would be a one-day operation became a three-day odyssey.

What we learned from this experience is that neither of us is as young as we used to be. We don’t have the strength, energy, or stamina that we once had. At the end of day two we knocked off early due to exhaustion and returned to the project on Monday. By the end of the day, we were tired and dirty and sweaty, but the shed was gone. As we were cleaning up, my brother said, “Well Bart, it’s official. We are now certifiably old.” I knew that was the case for him. I didn’t realize it was true of me too.

In my mind I am still in my 20s. I have a full head of hair, can carry heavy objects by myself, and can climb a ladder without getting dizzy. Now, I have to remember my hat when I go outside, or my bald spot will get sunburned. If I carry anything heavy, I need to stop and rest along the way. And before I get down on my knees, I need to develop a specific plan for how I’m going to get back up.

Sunday afternoon, my son invited our family to visit him at his apartment in DC. The apartment complex has a rooftop pool, and we all went swimming. What stood out to me was the number of young people on that rooftop. Young folks in their 20s. They were young and strong and nimble and there was not an ounce of fat among any of them. They looked a lot like the image I have of myself when I was that age. How did I go from 20-something to 65 so quickly?

James 4:14 reminds us that life is like a vapor that is here for a short time and then disappears. I think what James is saying is that we need to make the most of every day. Work hard. Play hard. Do good. Go swimming with your family. And don’t forget to spend time with your brother. Especially if he is “certifiably old.”