I am a building contractor in Central Virginia. During my fifty-plus years working in the construction industry, I have probably worked on close to a thousand projects. I have built, remodeled and renovated homes. My work includes new office buildings, new and renovated retail spaces, historic restorations, many restaurants, and three veterinarian clinics. I have renovated log homes and even added an addition onto a bus.
One reason I decided to follow a career in construction is the variety of projects out there. The nature of what I have a chance to work on challenges me in different ways every day. The one constant is constant change. The moving parts involve product, customers, technology, workforce, weather, and even locations. The goal on all our projects is to find the best combination of function, aesthetics and budget for our customers.
Another characteristic of the construction industry that attracted me was the huge and wildly diverse cast of characters I get to work around. Some of these projects take hundreds of sets of hands joining together to create something. It involves finding ways to work with people from all over the spectrum relative to construction skills, formal education, social skills, personal beliefs, political leanings, family backgrounds and financial status. We have to look past our different backgrounds and histories to create things that hopefully will last for generations. The beautiful piece of working with such a diverse group of people is that I never know what lessons I might learn from or about one of them at any moment. The key is to make sure you are paying attention because you never know not only what you might learn but also how you might be changed.
If I wasn’t paying attention, I might not know that one of the concrete truck drivers is an amazing gospel singer. If I wasn’t paying attention, I may never have learned one of my subcontractors is a minister. If I wasn’t paying attention, I may never have learned that one of our cabinetmakers is a really good bass player in a Grateful Dead tribute band. And if I wasn’t paying attention at an historic courthouse and museum renovation job we are doing, I would not have experienced one of the most powerful and moving moments of my life.
As I was accepting a delivery at this historic museum job, I shared a moment with a young black man probably in his mid-twenties that I will never forget. He was assisting the driver with the delivery when he noticed an artifact in the side yard of the museum. In the side yard of this museum there is a 16”x 16” x 24” high block of stone sticking out of the ground. A small sign identifies this stone as a Slave Auction Block. I can not wrap my head around the fact that slaves once stood on top of this stone as people bid to purchase them. I had seen this piece of pre-civil war history many times before, but little did I know that on the day of this delivery my view of the auction block would change dramatically.
Right before getting back on the truck, this young black man walked over to the auction block and bowed his head in prayer. I didn’t invade his space but I stood close by and bowed my head as well. As we stood there in silence for a minute that seemed like an eternity, I could only think what his prayer might be. I tried to picture what took place on that block. The reality of it made my heart sink. In these times of such racial strife and division, I wish more people could have shared that moment with me. As he raised his head and I raised mine, I simply said “Amen”. Nothing more was said. He just nodded and walked back to the truck.
Wow! What a powerful moment and story. By writing about it, you allow us all to share that moment with both of you.
I played soccer growing up, and I do think being part of a team with many different characters and backgrounds opened my heart and mind to a world beyond my own – similar to what you described working in construction. It’s…read more
What is the point in hating one another?
For do we not all share the same mother?
Do we not all come from the same origin?
So why then do we divide ourselves by the color of our skin?
Why have we allowed ourselves to buy into this insanity,
Of thinking there are multiple races, instead of just humanity?
And then turn it around and use it as a means to cause calamity
For nothing more than to feed our own vanity…
Yet there’s thousands of sick and poor
Who are left picking scraps up off the floor
Families who are torn asunder
Suffering the sound of gun shots as they echo like thunder
So many hearts that have been broken
Over hurtful words which have been spoken
Are we unable see that solving hatred with wrath only continues to feed the bloodbath?
Why is it so hard for us to love one another?
To look at our neighbor as tho he is our brother?
Why are we so concerned with who is better, and who is best?
Should our value not begin with the fact that there’s a heart beating within our chest?
Why do we cling to a dividing love that is traditional,
Instead of clinging to a holy love that is unconditional?
For is that not the meaning of agape?
Is that not the beauty of the Way?
In order to love someone, do we really need a reason?
And why should our love change as quickly as the seasons?
Is life itself not a precious gift?
Why then do we seek to further the rift?
Why then do we seek to further the divide?
For nothing more than our own foolish pride?
Donald, I love this piece and your ability to see the humanity in all people and have compassion for all people. Your voice and message need to echo throughout all homes and hearts. With that said, I will be featuring this story in our newsletter today! Thank you for sharing and thank you for being part of The Unsealed. <3 lauren
Sorry for the late response, but I’m sincerely grateful that you liked what I wrote. And I’m beyond grateful for your desire to put it in your newsletter!!
Donald, this is an amazing piece! I love that you see the good in others despite their living condition, age, status, etc. Despite what they have gone through, everyone should be treated with respect and kindness. I absolutely love your perspective on life and I am inspired by every word you said. Great work!!
In the halls of the classroom a professor addressed the gathering
“Color is the most important thing to see in your students.”
Yet within my heart an opposing perspective unfurled,
For I firmly believe in perceiving beyond whats seen.
“Not race but merit ” I softly whispered in response
As talents and dreams should soar limitlessly.
Each student, a canvas painted with hues
Their potential unrestricted by a lens.
A palette of minds an untamed spectrum lies, before us,
Where brilliance and creativity remain unnamed.
Within each shade resides a captivating narrative
Not confined to predetermined colors we are told to see.
To judge based on race to measure through skin
Dims the radiance that each individual possesses.
A brushstroke of bias, a shade of ignorance cast upon us all
Suppresses the essence of significance and beauty.
Let us embrace the kaleidoscope of souls that surround us
Where differences unite than divide.
For, within the inclusive frame of our classrooms
Genuine learning and personal growth carve their purpose.
So let us not impose limitations or draw lines to define others
Instead let understanding radiate brightly.In the hearts and minds of people diversity flourishes, like an unsung but harmonious song.
I so love this piece, so love it. No one should ever be judge by their skin tone, something you had no control over. Not sure why everyone wasn’t born with the same skin tone, there had to be a reason, a reason we will never know, but I’m quite sure it wasn’t for us to hate each other for it. Me personally, I’m not sure if all was born with the…read more
I would agree with you!
You know I wrote this off a true story. The words this person said were true. I had to take a whole class talking about this topic. The class was centered around race and how important noticing race was.
I want to see my students cultures and their traditions personally.