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The 40 Foot High Roof Job

by Terry Barlow
11/26/14
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   I’ll never forget it, standing with my friend Gene at the foot of that new building at the sawmill as volunteers were being sought to help put on the sloped roof. “No way I’m going up there!” Gene said honestly. “I don’t do well with heights.” (A contributing factor was that he was also hearing-challenged.)  “Nonsense!” I responded, oblivious and seeing what I thought was an opportunity to demonstrate uncommon valor for him. I had no fear of heights (that I knew of).

  But when I ascended some 40 feet and arrived on the roof with a wrench to tighten bolts, and was roped together with a veteran crew, I began to realize it wasn’t going to be so easy. One sudden, jerking movement by any of us could bring the entire crew tumbling down disastrously to ground level. My movements were less than graceful or coordinated, especially as I attempted to tighten bolts near the edge. Way down below, Gene was looking smarter by the moment!

  One of the crew leaders, who happened to be a Viet Nam war vet, eyed me sternly as I fumbled around helplessly by the edge of the sloped roof. After break time let’s just say that I wasn't exactly “encouraged” to return to the rooftop.

 Back on a ground chore in the company of my sympathetic friend I glanced in awe at the roof crew, feeling a new respect for the often underrated gifts that carry others where I’m wiser not to go.