The Right Tools for the Job

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One could easily get depressed. Ukraine…Deadlocked Congress…Inequality…The environmental crisis…Inflation.

Not a lot of good news.

But I am fortunate to get a daily exposure to another reality, working with volunteers. Imagine this: able bodied people show up and offer to do hard physical work for free. They get muddy, cold, or hot, tired, bang fingers, and – at the end of the day – thank me for the opportunity.

And that’s a normal day.

One day last week was an exceptional day.

Bill pulled up in his black pickup truck with his trailer in tow. He unloaded his power tools, scaffolding, several sets of sawhorses and several ladders. “Paul, just keep these here until the project is done. They just sit around my garage.”

Later in the day Bill came and pulled me aside, “You know that I am retired millwright. The right tool for the job is my passion. Do you need any tools?”

I thought for a moment. Over the years Project Neighbors has accumulate a lot of tools. However, we were about to begin a large roofing job, almost 40 square -4000 square feet – of shingling.  We could do it the old-fashioned way, with hammer and nails, but an air powered roofing gun would certainly speed things up and be easier on the fingers.

I told Bill, “We don’t have a roofing gun.”

“Let’s go get one,” was his response. He headed for my truck. His was still hooked up to his trailer.

I was hesitant. With the recent cost inflation of building materials, I was concerned about the budget for this project and those guns were expensive.

The Right Tools for the Job

When we got to Menards Bill picked out the most expensive gun on the shelf, $250, paid for it with his credit card and informed me that this roofing gun was to be a part of Project Neighbor’s arsenal of tools. He added, “I’m too old to be up on the roof.”

Tonight, I will skip listening to the news and go to sleep confident that there is hope for the world.

Paul Schreiner

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