Sharpened Saw Saves Camelot (a Steve Orr Bible reflection)

The radial saw operator was cutting wood to needed lengths and widths. Folks were standing about waiting for some of those sawn pieces. My crew had finished assembling a few of the larger all-wood set pieces and now had nothing to do until more wood arrived.

 

We were supposed to be building the set for our annual musical. If we didn’t get it built, the actors were going to be singing Camelot tunes on an empty stage!

 

The bottleneck was that saw. 

 

With almost every piece, the operator had to stop and back out the blade. It was getting stuck part way through. Pieces were getting damaged and had to be thrown out. The process was slow—and getting slower.

 

Into this situation stepped Mr. Starnes, our drama instructor. He took it all in with a long glance and then walked straight over to the person running the saw. They spoke for a few seconds, and then, together, removed the saw blade and replaced it with another. Mr. Starnes then walked away. When he came near, I asked him about it. 

 

“We’ve used this blade too much,” he said. “It’s grown dull. I helped Jimmy put on a new, sharp blade. We’ll get this one sharpened.”

 

It was as simple as that. Sawn wood production increased, pieces began to flow out to the various working groups, and we were soon all re-engaged—turning wood into dreams.

 

In Stephen Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Habit 7 is “Sharpen the Saw.” Mr. Covey explains it like this: A man sawing a tree says he's too busy to take a break and sharpen his saw. As a result, he is eventually unable to cut any part of the tree because the saw blade has become too dull to function as intended.  

 

Habit 7 is not about saw blades. It’s about renewal. Covey says we need renewal in four dimensions: physical, spiritual, mental, and social/emotional.

 

If that rings a bell, it’s because it sounds a lot like something you may have come across in the Bible. In fact, Covey’s “habits” are remarkably similar to Biblical guidance. Habit 7 aligns perfectly with the commandment to take a weekly Sabbath day, to pause for a day of renewal, to wait upon the Lord. And take a look at Philippians 4:8 in the Thanksgiving Day readings for great examples of how we can “sharpen” our life walk in multiple dimensions. 

 

Those should be reason enough for us to make this habit a part of our lives. But if more is needed, we can find it in this week's Matthew passage. Jesus tells his disciples to: “Be ready because the Son of Man will return when you least expect him." 

 

We must prepare if we are to “be ready.” Since no one except God knows the day or hour of the return, we need to heed that exhortation. One way to do that is to set aside a day each week to recharge and renew. 

But consider all of the dimensions reflected in this week’s scriptures. They all give us the opportunity to “sharpen” those essential areas of our lives. After all, as I learned all those years ago building sets for Camelot, you really can’t be productive with a dull saw.

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PHOTO: Adobe Express

 

The Pause That Refreshes: some thoughts on the Sabbath and a little Coca-Cola history

https://www.bufordcoc.com/the-pause-that-refreshes/

 

 

Covey resources related to Sharpening the Saw:

https://www.franklincovey.com/courses/the-7-habits/habit-7/

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As is our practice, DaySpring’s Lectionary breakfast will not meet the Friday morning after Thanksgiving Day. Included below are the links to the scripture readings for Thanksgiving and the First Sunday of Advent. 

 

Have a blessed Thanksgiving. See you in December!

Blessings,

Steve

 

*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

READINGS FOR 

THANKSGIVING DAY, USA (NOVEMBER 27, 2025)

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=384&z=p&d=87

 

Print them here: 

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Cx_ThanksgivingDay.pdf

 

Deuteronomy 26:1-11

Psalm 100

Philippians 4:4-9

John 6:25-35

 

READINGS FOR 

FIRST SUNDAY OF ADVENT (NOVEMBER 30, 2025) AND THE COMING WEEK

 

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=17134&z=a&d=1

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Ax_FirstSundayofAdvent.pdf

 

Isaiah 2:1-5

Psalm 122

Romans 13:11-14

Matthew 24:36-44

“Full Price” (a Steve Orr Bible reflection)

“Never pay full price for late pizza.”

—Michelangelo (not the Sistine Chapel artist)

 

Among my favorite events of the 1980s was the arrival of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles. TMNT looked like turtles. But their mutations meant they could talk, walk on two legs, had arms and hands. 

 

These four “teenagers” were named for renaissance artists: Michelangelo, Raphael, Leonardo, and Donatello. As the name implies, they were ninjas, and they were trained to use their martial-arts skills by Splinter, their mutated-rat-Sensei. They lived in the New York City sewers, wore masks, fought crime, and celebrated victories with delivery pizza.

 

Ludicrous? Ridiculous? Maybe.

 

Yet, against all reason, that comic book was popular from the get-go. People were drawn to these wise-cracking, adolescent, street-warrior amphibians. Also against all reason, the TMNT are still around, still going strong, and still 🖤NY. The TMNT franchise spans books, films and TV shows. These days you can expect to see them buddy up with the likes of Batman to fight crime on (and under) the streets of the city. 

 

But it’s not crime-fighting we’re going to zero in on: It’s that delivery pizza. My favorite TMNT quote comes from an early film in which the Turtles pay the Domino Pizza delivery guy only $10 for a $13 pizza. When he complains about being shorted, Michelangelo replies: “Wise man say: Forgiveness is divine—but never pay full price for late pizza.”

 

From the moment I heard those words, I knew I could put them to work. Never again, I vowed, would I reward someone for delinquency. At that point in my working career, I had people who reported to me, people to whom I assigned projects with deadlines. I reasoned that if they thought that work was important, they would make the effort, and the arrangements, to ensure on-time delivery—maybe even early. 

 

Oh, it’s not that I punished my staff if they were late. I just didn’t reward tardiness. And at that time, in that setting, the philosophy worked pretty well. Those who needed that lesson learned it.

 

But—penalizing tardiness doesn’t always work. 

 

And I, for one, am really glad it doesn’t. What if Jesus followed that approach in this week’s Luke selection? I am happy to report that Jesus, when face to face with a real latecomer, soundly rejected that philosophy. 

 

The latecomer was a thief on the cross next to Jesus. He asked to be remembered when Jesus came into His kingdom. He was, in effect, saying, “I’m very, very late to this, but I am hoping you will reward me, anyway.” And Jesus replied, “Truly I tell you, today you will be with me in Paradise.” Can you imagine two people, soon to die, having such a conversation? 

 

Ridiculous. Crazy. Completely irrational. 

 

It gets even wilder. Jesus isn’t watching the clock. Yes, he was very, very late, but Jesus didn’t penalize him for his tardiness. Instead, Jesus paid the full price for that thief.

 

Ridiculous. Crazy. Completely irrational. 

 

Like paying full price for late pizza.

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PHOTO: Adobe Express filters through Photoshop Express 

 

 

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DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets Friday morning at 8:00 on Zoom* and in person at Our Breakfast Place. Good food, good friends, and interesting stuff to talk about. 

 

It’s full price, regardless of food delivery times…

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=384&z=p&d=86

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Cx_ReignofChrist.pdf

 

Jeremiah 23:1-6

Luke 1:68-79

Psalm 46

Colossians 1:11-20

Luke 23:33-43

Proper 29 (34) (November 23, 2025)

 

“It’s all about preparation . . . Or is it?” (a Steve Orr Bible reflection)

The TV commercial focused on a teenager doing research, nervous about giving his first speech. The word glossophobia popped up on his tablet screen. That’s the fear of public speaking.

 

Most of us can relate. Multiple studies have confirmed our number one fear is having to give a speech. That’s ahead of, in order, spiders, death, and heights. And the greatest anxiety we associate with public speaking is brain freeze: unable to recall what we intended to say. So of course, when required to give a speech, we do a great deal of research. We want to be as prepared as possible. Hopefully, that can lessen our anxiety. 

 

Lessening our anxiety may have been one of Jesus’ objective in this week’s Luke passage. But that wasn’t obvious. Overhearing others discuss the beauty of the Temple, Jesus followed up by foretelling its destruction, along with wars, insurrections, earthquakes, famines, familial betrayal, and plagues. 

 

Nothing there to lessen anyone’s anxiety.

 

But then He said something startling. So startling, in fact, I checked out several different Bible translations. With a few minor differences, they all deliver the same message:

 

"Make up your minds not to prepare your defense in advance." (Luke 21:14 NRSV)

 

I was shocked!

 

So, what are we, God’s people, to do if we are required to defend our faith?

The answer: Live in imitation of believers who have gone before. Trust that God will provide what is needed, and ask for the wisdom to recognize that provision when it comes. Know that when we need to speak, God will provide the words we need. Go about our lives. Work and “do not be weary in doing what is right.” 

 

Sure, knowing what we believe and why we believe it is fundamental to being a follower of Jesus. The point of Jesus' statement is to assure us we need not worry about what to say and how to say it. We must not let fear interfere with our testimony. There is something bigger than speech prep going on here. 

 

Be confident. Jesus will supply the words when the time comes to speak.

 

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PHOTO: Adobe Express

 

BONUS MATERIAL

Public Speaking—Fear Number One:

https://nationalsocialanxietycenter.com/social-anxiety/public-speaking-anxiety/#:~:text=The%20fear%20of%20public%20speaking,considered%20a%20social%20anxiety%20disorder.

 

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I hope to see you Friday morning on Zoom* or in person at Our Breakfast Place. DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets at 8:00 to enjoy fine food and even finer exchange of ideas.

 

Speeches will not be timed…

 

Blessings,

Steve

 

*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard.)

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/89947678414

 

 

SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK 

Find them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/texts/?y=384&z=p&d=85

 

Print them here:

https://lectionary.library.vanderbilt.edu/wp-content/uploads/pdfs/Cx_Proper28.pdf

 

Isaiah 65:17-25

Isaiah 12

Malachi 4:1-2a

Psalm 98

2 Thessalonians 3:6-13

Luke 21:5-19

Proper 28 (33) (November 16, 2026)

 

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