With tongue in cheek, the Rant begins…
I think everyone ought to know plumbing. Really! No, not just know a little something but competent to do all things plumbing. Fathers should teach sons and daughters everything there is to know about plumbing. After all,there’s not much to it, lots of books available, the internet and don’t forget the code book; we all have access to it and if we are going to live in a modern house with running water and flush toilets it behooves us to know it exhaustively.
Oh I have hired a plumber before! I know what plumbers are like, they make things that are not, much too complicated. Much, much too complicated and regulated! They try to keep the average guy from doing plumbing, after all that’s how they make their money, how they build their plumbing consortium which allows them to rub shoulders with the electricians but don’t get me started about electricians!
Imagine, guys actually charge for plumbing! How dare they charge for it when anyone can be a plumber! Don’t get me started about the chef or the car salesman. Imagine! Getting paid for something I could and should be able to do myself! What about those teachers? Who says they’re so smart? I’m sure I could teach as well as they could.
The biggest money grab of all; the medical system and all because of the rich doctors! I have an education in animal husbandry and can pull a calf; and I saw a cesarean section done on the Discovery Channel - I could do that for my wife. Everyone should know how to do it, so where do the doctors get off thinking they should make a living as doctors! Besides, isn’t it basic compassion? They should help people! How can you justify getting paid for something you should do anyway and that anyone could do? That brings me to food. I am capable of raising animals and growing a garden. I could certainly grow my own food so why would I pay a farmer to do it - I am sure I pay too much for milk anyway!
All these folks and more are ripping us off, expecting to be paid for stuff we can do by ourselves! I can be a plumber, a teacher, a waitress, a helicopter pilot, a recreational therapist, a water treatment specialist, a birth doula, a crop specialist, a salesman, a farmer, a doctor, a lawyer, a policeman, an artist, a musician, an electrician, a medical researcher, a plane builder, a counselor, a writer, a printer, a computer manufacturer, a pastor … I can be it all and so can you! We don’t need each other, we won’t be manipulated, we won’t be dependent on anyone; you will never use me and I will never use you! Simple as that!
Epilogue
In this way we are like the various parts of a human body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other way around. The body we’re talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped-off finger or cut-off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we find ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvellously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pridefully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t. If you preach, just preach God’s Message, nothing else; if you help, just help, don’t take over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in distress, keep your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.
Romans 12:4-8 The Message
If you are called to be a plumber then… and the cheque is in the mail.
