Wednesday 9 April 2014

The Watchmaker



Recently, my favorite watch, broke its strap, so I decided to take it to the watchmaker. I also had another watch which had completely stopped so I used this opportunity to take both of them. I asked him if I could wait or go and come back later for them, but he just pulled a seat and patted it, which I assumed to mean "have a seat". I packed it and watched him work.

He first took out his eye glass, the small binocular-like thing that he put against his eye ( I wonder how or what holds it in place). Then he took his micro-mini tongs and opened my watch. At first I was neither impressed nor fascinated and thought to myself "show-off!". He meticulously went through the parts of the watch, repairing it as slowly and as carefully as possible. He handled my watch with such elegance and care that I felt guilty for always taking it off the first thing I get to the house.

When he was done, he dusted it off, brushed it and then gave it to me with a satisfied smile on his face and told me the cost. When I made it to give him the money and was about to leave, he made an offer to place the watch on my hands as I was getting up while wearing it.


Observing him at work, made me think of God's wonderful creations. It also made me think of the great things we have in life. Individually, what we consider to be great and wonderful. I also thought about the things we do, how we do them, when and where we do them. Do we handle our lives like the watchmaker handles or his watches or do we handle it the way Joy handles hers?

It also made me think about my past and present relationships, with my family and friends and soon a lover and companion. How will I handle it? God definitely handles us with care, how do we handle other people, wear them and take them off as soon as our work is finished, or do we always remember that they are there and handle them with great care? Do we keep them on the shelf or do we arouse them and remind them that they have a purpose in our lives?

Whichever way you handle whomever is in your life, remember the watchmaker, he handled the watch with care remembering that it is a delicate piece and he knows its purpose. I would like to handle you as such, you might be broken and I might put you up on the shelf, but I try to remind you of who you are to me. How great it is that I have you with me and in my life, how delicate you are. Once in many times, I will throw you up on the shelf and take you down when I'm broken without you.

Just as the watch is in the maker's life every single day, so are you in my life. In his hands a piece of art, precious and delicate. In my life, a priceless jewel you are.