Recently several students from the campus ministry at Ball State had the opportunity to try their hand at blacksmithing, learning how to make knives. This campus ministry is an outreach effort of Grace Lutheran Church in Muncie, and is run by the seminarians who are placed at Grace for their vicarages. This year’s vicar, Vicar David Grasch, accompanied the undergrads on their outing. Please read his reflection on the experience below.
The Work of His Hand
On January 25, the Ball State students and I went to Redkey Blacksmith for a knifemaking lesson. Before we started, the blacksmith reminded us that what we would be doing for fun was an vital job back in the day. Every other business in town would have relied on the smith’s craftsmanship. He needed strength, skill, and—as I learned—patience.
After giving us our instructions, the blacksmith set us loose, and we had a lot of fun. My own knife didn’t turn out exactly as I had intended, though. Our group ended up starting late, and a few of us had to rush to make it back to Muncie on time. In my haste, I flattened my blade too much, something I only realized when I moved to the belt grinder.
When I tried to smooth out the blade’s surface, I found that there were rough spots I couldn’t remove. There simply wasn’t enough material left. My impatience had been my downfall. I learned a good blacksmith needs not only a firm hand and strong arms but also patience.
Our God is a good blacksmith. He isn’t fashioning knives or horseshoes or any other tool. Instead, “we are His workmanship,” as Ephesians 2:10 tells us. He’s busy shaping us into the people He wants us to be. And unlike me, God works patiently, or as Psalm 103:8 puts it, “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love.”
God’s patient love drives every stroke of His hammer as He works to bring about our salvation. In patient love, God shaped Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob. In patient love, His hammer formed Moses and the prophets. In patient love, God pierced hands and feet of His beloved Son. In patient love, your heavenly Father is molding you, too.
Sometimes we wonder what’s taking so long. If we were holding the hammer, we’d do things differently. We’d work much faster. And in our impatience, we’d ruin what we worked on. God doesn’t rush because He knows best. He takes His time, wisely molding us into His repentant, faithful people (Romans 2:4). Every moment He gives us and every word He speaks to us is deliberately and carefully placed for our good.
God’s patient work changes everything for us. The death of His Son and the message of His Gospel give us forgiveness, life, and salvation. The work that we do now is not meaningless, a test meant to trip us up, or a chance for us to hastily grab whatever we can gain. Freed from vanity, sin, and greed, we are free to reflect the love and patience of our Creator and Redeemer (Ephesians 2:10). The life He gives us is a life of work filled with purpose and grace. So, as we walk through this life by His grace, we can work patiently, doing good for others, just as our God blesses us.
Soli Deo Gloria
Vicar David Grasch