"Screw Jacks"

 

“Screw Jacks”

 

While visiting with a friend not long ago he told me of using a screw jack for a home project. Given my lack of mechanical skills I asked some questions and he explained how it worked. As he spoke I made some mental notes as it had the makings of a blog piece. So I did more research and found some interesting facts and applications to our lives as followers of Christ.

The invention of the screw jack (also called a jack screw) has been disputed. Some have credited it to Frank Sleeper in the 1880’s and others to Frank Gormley in the early 20^th century (both men were Canadians). The purpose is lifting heavy objects by turning a screw-like device with a lever. Some are relatively small, such as an automobile jack to change a tire, while others are much larger. A friend bought a fixer-upper house (we thought he was nuts when we first saw it) and used a screw jack to level the structure. Then over time he transformed it into a beautiful home where he and his family lived for many years. In another case a house moving rig on Dave’s college campus broke an axle and a screw jack was used to lift a three story building so repairs could be made. Nowadays, however, hydraulic jacks have largely replaced screw jacks because of easier operation.

As I listened to my friend’s description of how a screw jack functions my mind went to Paul’s admonition in Galatians 6:2: “Carry each other’s burdens, and in this way you will fulfill the law of Christ.” The Greek word for burdens comes from another one meaning torment or torture, suggesting an overwhelming load which can’t be handled alone. (A different word is used in verse 5—“each one should carry {his or her} own load”—which refers to a soldier’s pack carried by one person so there’s no contradiction.) Just as a screw jack does for us what we can’t do alone so our joining together helps others deal with circumstances which might otherwise overcome them. Earlier on the morning I’m writing this a member of our Bible study fellowship told of a group of men from his church who went to a nearby campground owned by a different denomination to assist in clean-up and rebuilding efforts following two recent hurricanes, an example of the church being the church. (See the early posting, “Don’t Go to Church….”, for other examples.) My question: Am I prepared to be a “screw jack for Jesus” as these godly men were?

 

Grace and Blessings!

Jim McMillan