This is not inherently Presbyterian, and not really religious or spiritual, but just too good to pass up.  And maybe there is a tie-in, but back to that in a moment…

NPR this evening had a piece on Tinkering School.  This is a summer camp where 8, 9, and 10 year olds can use power tools and build “good” projects.  No sheltered “safe” activities here. At this camp the kids play with fire and knives.  The kids can learn to take risks.  There are no set or structured programs.  The rule is that there must be “good” projects.  These are not projects that are “pretend something else.”  If they want to build a bridge, it will be a real bridge that they will walk across.  If they build a boat, they will put it on the water and get into it.  For an experimental scientist like me this sounded like a lot of fun.  I appreciate my dad teaching me how to properly use power tools as I was growing up.

So, to keep to my usual topic, are there analogies or parallels we Presbyterians can draw here?  If you see any feel free to comment, but a couple that come to mind for me:

1)  My son the YAD got to get his hands dirty at GA this year and do the “real” work with the “elder” elders.

2)  Since we believe in the “priesthood of all believers” this means that anyone in the church can play with the “power tools” right along with the “professionals.”

3)  G-3.0400, The Church is called to undertake this mission even at the risk of losing its life, trusting in God alone as the author and giver of life, sharing the gospel, and doing those deeds in the world that point beyond themselves to the new reality in Christ.

Just a few thoughts.  Add a comment if you have others.