When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
    but with humility comes wisdom. – Proverbs 11:2

I have already confessed that I have essentially zero natural handyman skills. I can do a few very basic tasks, but tend to quickly run into trouble.

That’s why I am so happy to have achieved at least minimal success in the way of “some massive amounts of assembly required” projects, putting up towel-racks, building bookcases, hanging pictures and installing blinds along with a few other tasks that always challenge my Liberal Arts suburban self.

Then, fourteen completed windows into a fifteen window series of hanging blinds and shades, I ran into my nemesis. I know, it’s always the last one that makes the most trouble.

My issue was the back door heading out from the kitchen. I had mounted every other window covering directly onto wood frames, but this one is a hollow metal door. I could not (of course) get my usual wood screw approach to work so I went to the hardware store for help. The Lowes staff, however, weren’t really listening and they sent me home with metal drywall anchors.

That did not work! So I did my Google search and my Youtube research and watched some videos. I then ordered a box of hollow door fasteners, a “setting tool” (a mystery device I had never heard of) and a 5/16 drill bit that can go through metal. I am happy to say that it all worked like a charm.

Most of you are thinking, “Well duh… of course it did. And you should have already known that a hollow core metal door would require fasteners and a setting tool?”

For me, however, this was epic. It involved A) failure, B) frustration C) problem solving D) research and E) triumph!

When I was done, with the last and final set of shades installed in the kitchen, I told Rebekah how good it made me feel. Not just to have the late afternoon sun nicely shaded when I am cooking, but to have stretched myself just a little.

The key to learning is not so much aptitude for the subject at hand as it is a commitment to grow, a little humility and a teachable spirit.

Instruct the wise and they will be wiser still;
    teach the righteous and they will add to their learning. – Proverbs 9:9

Every day I hope and pray that I learn something new. What we need to be concerned about is not the people who make mistakes it’s the people who believe they don’t have anything they need to learn.

“When pride comes,” Proverbs teaches us, “then comes disgrace, but with humility comes wisdom.”

Peace and more peace – DEREK

The key to learning is not so much aptitude for the subject at hand as it is a commitment to grow, a little humility and a teachable spirit.