The woodpecker and the carpenter

 The woodpecker and the carpenter

By Chris Mathews

Long ago the carpenter said to the woodpecker,

“I need holes, lots of holes - drilled in these great planks of wood.”

“I love to make holes, how many holes?” the woodpecker asked eagerly.

“Many thousands,” he replied, “enough to build a giant house.

“You must be building a very big house sir. Do you have a very large family.”

“No, just me and seven others, but I will have lots of guests who will be joining me. Some will be very large and some very small, as small as a dormouse. And each one needs just the right room, for, ‘In my father's house there are many rooms,’”

“Your job is to make all the holes for the wooden pegs that will hold my house together. You must make the holes good, and round, and strong so my house can weather the fiercest storm, because my house must float on the oceans of the world.”

“What oceans, I have flown over this whole earth but have never seen an ocean!” Said the little woodpecker. Mrs Woodpecker came and perched along side her husband and said,

“Don’t you know all the people of the town are laughing at you! People come from miles around, point and Look, ‘Come and see the HMS Carpenter’s Folly!’”

“I was told to build the house, and God himself would provide the ocean, so Mrs woodpecker have a little faith! There is room enough for all, including you.”

“How long will we be gone?”

“Until the world is made clean.”

“Why would you choose me,” said the woodpecker. “I'm only a very small bird there are plenty of bigger, stronger, faster and smarter animals.”

“Yes, they have their part to play too, but only you can make such beautiful holes even in the hardest wood. Don't you know that God has appointed each one to the things they are best at. The elephants can uproot trees and drag logs. The giraffe can reach to the top deck. The Oxen, with his great strength can drive the sawmill. The bevers will cut down the trees with their strong teeth. Even the moles can mine the earth to find copper to make the nails. But only you could make such beautiful holes. Each one must do the thing he is good at. So gather your friends, you will need plenty of help.”

Copyright Chris Mathews