The Project. A Free Coffee Break Read

 

The Project: A Free Coffee Break Read

Joe looked up from his weeding as the building supply truck rumbled to a stop alongside his neighbour's fence. Must be a big project. He smiled and continued with his work. A few minutes later, he  bagged up the weeds he'd pulled and turned to go inside for lunch. "Hi, Mac." He waved to his neighbour, who was directing the delivery men. "Making some improvements?"

The portly man grinned. "Sure am. Going to be building a large shed. I'm running out of space to store my collections."

Joe nodded and smiled politely. Everyone on the street knew about Mac's penchant for collecting. Anything from antique toys, to tools, to lawn mowers. He even had a stash of vintage signs which he  hoped would fetch a tidy sum one day. 

Joe would have liked to buy and old mower to refurbish and use, but Mac was the sort who hoarded everything for a rainy day. As far as Joe knew, he'd never even held a garage sale.

Joe told his wife, Margie, about Mac's plans over lunch.

She shook her head. "That's the last thing he needs. More storage space. If only he would realize, you can't take all your stuff with you when you die."

"So true, Margie. Best we keep praying for Mac. What he needs is the Lord. Not a shed to pack more stuff in."

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The following day, Joe got an early start on his gardening chores. He wanted to beat the heat. He looked towards Mac's yard, certain his neighbour would be making a start on his shed, but he was nowhere in sight. 

Joe busied himself with his spade, but stopped abruptly when he heard an approaching siren. 

The ambulance stopped outside Mac's house.

Joe dropped his spade, then stood waiting and praying at the gate, his eyes nailed on Mac's front door. Long minutes ticked by before the paramedics emerged.

The tragedy played out in front of Joe as they escorted Mac's shrouded body from the house, right past a now useless pile of siding and roofing.

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This story was inspired by the parable of the wealthy barn builder in Luke 12: 15-21.

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Luke 12:15-21 ESV

[15] And he said to them, “Take care, and be on your guard against all covetousness, for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions.” [16] And he told them a parable, saying, “The land of a rich man produced plentifully, [17] and he thought to himself, ‘What shall I do, for I have nowhere to store my crops?’ [18] And he said, ‘I will do this: I will tear down my barns and build larger ones, and there I will store all my grain and my goods. [19] And I will say to my soul, “Soul, you have ample goods laid up for many years; relax, eat, drink, be merry.”’ [20] But God said to him, ‘Fool! This night your soul is required of you, and the things you have prepared, whose will they be?’ [21] So is the one who lays up treasure for himself and is not rich toward God.”

https://bible.com/bible/59/luk.12.15-21.ESV

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Copyright: pencil in His Hand

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Love and prayers

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