Before another day of work began, the Carpenter’s tools met to discuss the problems they were having with each other. Hammer was the first to be addressed.

“You are much too noisy,” the other tools said. “You should go.”

“If I leave, Hand Drill should go, too. He’s insignificant and makes a very little impression.”

Hand Drill rose to his feet and said, “Well, Screw must go.”

“I will go if Plane goes,” Screw said.

“His work is on the surface and has no depth.”

“What about Ruler?” Plane countered. “He measures everything as though he is the only one right.”

“Sandpaper is much rougher,” Ruler complained. “He rubs people the wrong way.”

Just then the Carpenter arrived, gathered the tools and began to work. By day’s end, a beautiful pulpit stood on the workbench.

As the tools looked at the finished product — the result of their combined efforts — Saw said, “Look at what happens when we all do what we were created to do.”

This allegory, adapted from a Streams in the Desert devotion, hits close to home as I sometimes get stuck in the mindset of “Why don’t they see things the way I do? Do things the way I do? Handle problems the way I do?”

I believe that every church, family and organization flourishes when individuals use their unique gifts for a common goal.

Ronny Michel may be reached at rmichel@rtconline.com.