My Old Brogans and the Brogan Maker
By Bruce Lindsay
One of my hobbies is Re-enacting of the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. I head to a battlefield along with a few car loads of friends from my Unit – the 10th Louisiana (Confederate) or the 49th of Foot (British). We camp out 18th century style, leaving all the modern-day conveniences behind. My kids have both taken to this hobby. I don’t dare go away without them now.
My son, Clifford is turning 13 soon and his feet are already as big as mine. This presented a problem. Last year he kept waking up earlier than I did and putting on my old brogans (that’s what the typical work-boot was called back 200 years ago). I only had one pair, so I would go barefoot, or wear my Indian moccasins – both historically accurate alternatives.
The problem is that I work with the artillery. Neither moccasins, nor bare feet offer much protection from the next guy (and his brogans) stepping on my feet, nor a lumbered canon on wagon wheels rolling over my toes. Needless to say, I’ve been considering buying a new pair of brogans for Clifford for his upcoming birthday (please keep it a secret and don’t say anything to him).
There is one and only one person in Ontario – even Canada – who makes authentic 18th Century footwear. He works out of Guelph. His name is Rob. He is the one I purchased the first pair from, and they have been excellent shoes. The brogans have stood up to over 10 years of abuse and fit my feet comfortably – or at least comfortably as thick raw-hide and hobnails can. I have had them repaired a couple of times, they have a hole in one toe and they let in the water a bit, but I would never get rid of them. I actually love those old brogans.
I talked about ordering another pair and some of the guys in my Unit warned me not to use Rob. They told me that he is unreliable. The orders will take 6 months or more. The shoes won’t fit right.
“Nonsense,” I thought, “Rob makes the best brogans money can buy! He’s an old friend too. Of course I would order from him.” Still, hearing warnings from people I trust made me a little bit cautious about dealing with Rob.
I called Rob and ordered a pair of size 12 brogans back in August. I think Clifford’s feet will continue to grow for a while so size 12 should do (mine are 11s). He told me they couldn’t be ready for that weekend – there was a big event about 4 days from the day I spoke to him. I assured him that it was not a rush order. He said they’d be a few weeks then. I sent him a cheque. I didn’t give it another thought.
In our busy lives, little things like this get moved from the front burner to the back burner very often. It was not until January that I got to thinking, “Hey! I never did receive the brogans I was promised.” I sent an e-mail to Rob reminding him that the new re-enacting season was just around the corner and I needed the brogans soon.
No response.
I called 2 weeks later and spoke to him. He said he received my letter. He also received my e-mail and sent a reply. ‘The shoes are in the mail.’ I thought that was great. I waited.
Now 3 more weeks later, I have given up on him. I doubt the shoes are ever coming. I never did receive a reply to my e-mail. I think Rob is a ‘bad tooth’.
I ordered the brogans from a shoemaker in Tennessee.
Don’t get me wrong. I forgive Rob. I have nothing against him. I still think of him as a friend – all be it a useless friend. What bugs me is that I know he could do wonderful work, but he doesn’t do it. The whole experience has left me feeling hurt.
It’s our nature to give up on people.
Proverbs 25:19 “Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.”
This verse has always been a favourite of mine. It illustrates the fact that in our human nature, we won’t rely on things if we know they are going to hurt us. When you have a bad tooth or a toothache, you will try to chew your food on the other side of your mouth. This might make your jaw tired and it’s sometimes difficult to do, but it’s better than trying to chew with the bad tooth and getting the painful reminder that the tooth is useless. Likewise with a lame foot, you try not to put any weight on it. This makes it harder for the other foot but experience has taught you that it’s still better than counting on a lame foot to take some weight and being disappointed again, and falling on your face. This holds true any time – but like the verse reads, especially in “times of trouble.”
I think about Rob’s business. He won’t get any more business from me, and he’s obviously hurt many others in my unit. How many other people have been disappointed and hurt by this bad tooth? The re-enacting community is rather small. Having a bad reputation might mean the end for his business – despite his having the ability to make a great pair of shoes.
Think again about your jaw. It will slowly get stronger on one side as you use only that one side. Think about your good foot. It will get stronger as you depend on it to hold all your weight. I think the same will hold true for any reliable business. People will depend on it and the business will grow if it proves reliable over time.
Inside each business are people. Each of us as workers must strive to be dependable and reliable daily. If I am unreliable, my manager will move responsibilities away from me and give them to someone else – he’ll learn to chew on the other side of his mouth. I’m proud to say that where I work I have more responsibilities than anyone else, except the manager.
Now think about our Boss, the Great Boss. God is looking for us to be faithful servants. He calls us and expects us to answer. He guides and directs us and expects us to walk with Him and follow Him. As we prove reliable, God will ask us to do more for Him. I think you know this is true. Look at the lives of David, Joseph, and most any other Bible character. Read Matthew chapter 24.
Matthew 24:23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
My prayer today is that God will find me faithful and reliable. He has paid a great price for my work. I owe Him my best. Despite past failures, and being a bad tooth and a lame foot, I ask that God continue to use me and not give up on me. I want God to find me to be an obedient servant. I want to make Him happy, and share my Master's happiness!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Bruce… Great thoughts…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Northview update…
About a year ago Michael and Kristina Catania moved from Peterborough to Calgary for work and to begin a new life. Stuff happened personally making the future not so bright. Life choices were poor and Michael fell backwards with his personal decisions causing pain for his wife and son.
Not long ago Michael and Kristina returned to Ontario. Michael made a huge decision to begin the “turn around” of his life. For his own sake and as he puts it, “For the sake of my family and son….” He entered the program at Teen Challenge in Lambeth Ontario.
On Sunday, my wife and I traveled to London, Ontario to take part in a celebration for a number of young men. In a beautiful service filled with excitement and support of their friends, 12 people were Baptized in Water. They were making a declaration of the transformation that has taken place on the inside and confirming what people were seeing on the outside. Deep personal commitments had been made and lives have been changed.
Please take a look at a small portion on the events of last Sunday night via this YouTube video. Just click on this link or Copy it to your Browser - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhzvuB_2RZA
The Teen Challenge ministry that Michael is now a part of…is powerful and has a great history. Please check out http://www.tcfarm.org/history
They have a great program to help you support their work. One of the programs that they work with is “Automobile repairs and sales”. Good people like you donate their used and perhaps tired vehicles. Together with a great, qualified mechanic’s help they refurbish the vehicles and then sell them. Looking for a good car….have we got a deal for you!
~Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
One of my hobbies is Re-enacting of the War of 1812 and the American Civil War. I head to a battlefield along with a few car loads of friends from my Unit – the 10th Louisiana (Confederate) or the 49th of Foot (British). We camp out 18th century style, leaving all the modern-day conveniences behind. My kids have both taken to this hobby. I don’t dare go away without them now.My son, Clifford is turning 13 soon and his feet are already as big as mine. This presented a problem. Last year he kept waking up earlier than I did and putting on my old brogans (that’s what the typical work-boot was called back 200 years ago). I only had one pair, so I would go barefoot, or wear my Indian moccasins – both historically accurate alternatives.
The problem is that I work with the artillery. Neither moccasins, nor bare feet offer much protection from the next guy (and his brogans) stepping on my feet, nor a lumbered canon on wagon wheels rolling over my toes. Needless to say, I’ve been considering buying a new pair of brogans for Clifford for his upcoming birthday (please keep it a secret and don’t say anything to him).There is one and only one person in Ontario – even Canada – who makes authentic 18th Century footwear. He works out of Guelph. His name is Rob. He is the one I purchased the first pair from, and they have been excellent shoes. The brogans have stood up to over 10 years of abuse and fit my feet comfortably – or at least comfortably as thick raw-hide and hobnails can. I have had them repaired a couple of times, they have a hole in one toe and they let in the water a bit, but I would never get rid of them. I actually love those old brogans.
I talked about ordering another pair and some of the guys in my Unit warned me not to use Rob. They told me that he is unreliable. The orders will take 6 months or more. The shoes won’t fit right.
“Nonsense,” I thought, “Rob makes the best brogans money can buy! He’s an old friend too. Of course I would order from him.” Still, hearing warnings from people I trust made me a little bit cautious about dealing with Rob.
I called Rob and ordered a pair of size 12 brogans back in August. I think Clifford’s feet will continue to grow for a while so size 12 should do (mine are 11s). He told me they couldn’t be ready for that weekend – there was a big event about 4 days from the day I spoke to him. I assured him that it was not a rush order. He said they’d be a few weeks then. I sent him a cheque. I didn’t give it another thought.
In our busy lives, little things like this get moved from the front burner to the back burner very often. It was not until January that I got to thinking, “Hey! I never did receive the brogans I was promised.” I sent an e-mail to Rob reminding him that the new re-enacting season was just around the corner and I needed the brogans soon.
No response.
I called 2 weeks later and spoke to him. He said he received my letter. He also received my e-mail and sent a reply. ‘The shoes are in the mail.’ I thought that was great. I waited.
Now 3 more weeks later, I have given up on him. I doubt the shoes are ever coming. I never did receive a reply to my e-mail. I think Rob is a ‘bad tooth’.
I ordered the brogans from a shoemaker in Tennessee.
Don’t get me wrong. I forgive Rob. I have nothing against him. I still think of him as a friend – all be it a useless friend. What bugs me is that I know he could do wonderful work, but he doesn’t do it. The whole experience has left me feeling hurt.
It’s our nature to give up on people.
Proverbs 25:19 “Like a bad tooth or a lame foot is reliance on the unfaithful in times of trouble.”
This verse has always been a favourite of mine. It illustrates the fact that in our human nature, we won’t rely on things if we know they are going to hurt us. When you have a bad tooth or a toothache, you will try to chew your food on the other side of your mouth. This might make your jaw tired and it’s sometimes difficult to do, but it’s better than trying to chew with the bad tooth and getting the painful reminder that the tooth is useless. Likewise with a lame foot, you try not to put any weight on it. This makes it harder for the other foot but experience has taught you that it’s still better than counting on a lame foot to take some weight and being disappointed again, and falling on your face. This holds true any time – but like the verse reads, especially in “times of trouble.”
I think about Rob’s business. He won’t get any more business from me, and he’s obviously hurt many others in my unit. How many other people have been disappointed and hurt by this bad tooth? The re-enacting community is rather small. Having a bad reputation might mean the end for his business – despite his having the ability to make a great pair of shoes.
Think again about your jaw. It will slowly get stronger on one side as you use only that one side. Think about your good foot. It will get stronger as you depend on it to hold all your weight. I think the same will hold true for any reliable business. People will depend on it and the business will grow if it proves reliable over time.
Inside each business are people. Each of us as workers must strive to be dependable and reliable daily. If I am unreliable, my manager will move responsibilities away from me and give them to someone else – he’ll learn to chew on the other side of his mouth. I’m proud to say that where I work I have more responsibilities than anyone else, except the manager.
Now think about our Boss, the Great Boss. God is looking for us to be faithful servants. He calls us and expects us to answer. He guides and directs us and expects us to walk with Him and follow Him. As we prove reliable, God will ask us to do more for Him. I think you know this is true. Look at the lives of David, Joseph, and most any other Bible character. Read Matthew chapter 24.
Matthew 24:23 His master replied, 'Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master's happiness!'
My prayer today is that God will find me faithful and reliable. He has paid a great price for my work. I owe Him my best. Despite past failures, and being a bad tooth and a lame foot, I ask that God continue to use me and not give up on me. I want God to find me to be an obedient servant. I want to make Him happy, and share my Master's happiness!
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Thanks Bruce… Great thoughts…
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
Northview update…About a year ago Michael and Kristina Catania moved from Peterborough to Calgary for work and to begin a new life. Stuff happened personally making the future not so bright. Life choices were poor and Michael fell backwards with his personal decisions causing pain for his wife and son.
Not long ago Michael and Kristina returned to Ontario. Michael made a huge decision to begin the “turn around” of his life. For his own sake and as he puts it, “For the sake of my family and son….” He entered the program at Teen Challenge in Lambeth Ontario.
On Sunday, my wife and I traveled to London, Ontario to take part in a celebration for a number of young men. In a beautiful service filled with excitement and support of their friends, 12 people were Baptized in Water. They were making a declaration of the transformation that has taken place on the inside and confirming what people were seeing on the outside. Deep personal commitments had been made and lives have been changed.
Please take a look at a small portion on the events of last Sunday night via this YouTube video. Just click on this link or Copy it to your Browser - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YhzvuB_2RZA
The Teen Challenge ministry that Michael is now a part of…is powerful and has a great history. Please check out http://www.tcfarm.org/history
They have a great program to help you support their work. One of the programs that they work with is “Automobile repairs and sales”. Good people like you donate their used and perhaps tired vehicles. Together with a great, qualified mechanic’s help they refurbish the vehicles and then sell them. Looking for a good car….have we got a deal for you!
~Pastor Murray Lincoln ~
posted by Murray Lincoln at
Tuesday, February 19, 2008
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