PASTOR DAVE’S MUSINGS FROM THE HEARTLAND

May 25, 2022

YOUR NAME ATTACHED

Over the years I would buy clothes and other merchandise that would have a piece of paper enclosed.  On the slip was the name of a person who had personally inspected the article and certified that it met the accepted standards.  Since their name was attached, they made extra sure there was nothing wrong with the item.

Several days our oldest grandson helped some of the guys who are working on our flooded area.  He has been a big help and has learned a lot about construction and power tools.  One day his younger brother gave a helping hand.  They take after their great-great-grandfather who was an accomplished carpenter.  My father also acquired the talent.

One of the guys helping gave my grandson the following: “remember your name is attached to what you do.”  The logic would seem to be that if your name is attached to something you are more likely to make sure it is done well and not just try to get by.  Having your name attached motivates one to give more attention to details and the little things.

During my formative years my mother liked to shop at Penny’s and my father at Sears.  In fact my father worked part time at a Sear’s store in Hammond, Indiana.  For a number of years he had owned a hardware store in New Brighton, PA.  Almost all of the tools he possessed were the Sears brand Craftsman.  For my father the name meant quality.  If the Craftsman name was attached to a tool you could be sure that it would serve you well for many years.

When Solomon was building the temple in Jerusalem he looked for only the best materials.  A brand that had an excellent reputation was the Cedars of Lebanon.  Its chief value lay in the fact that it was the only tree in the region plentiful and large enough for big buildings. The King also built his own palace from the Cedars.

There are several illustrations where persons are compared to the Cedars.  “The righteous flourish like the palm tree, and grow like a cedar in Lebanon.” (Ps. 92:12) “His appearance is like Lebanon, choice as the cedars.” (Song of Solomon, 5:15b)

One of our most important possessions is our reputation.  Daily we contribute to it or detract from it.  We do this by what we choose to attach our name.  Sometimes we fail to acknowledge that daily our choices and our actions are reflections upon our character.  We fail to give a task the attention it deserves and its quality suffers.  A good reputation can be seriously harmed by a single action.