Up On the Roof

Several years ago, I had to replace the roofing shingles on our house. My good friend Keilan Gore said that he and I could do the work. Both of us worked at the Blue Circle Cement Plant and on our off days we torn off the old shingles and replaced them. We carried shovels, hammers, straight hoes, and flat pitch forks on the roof to remove the old shingles.

My oldest son Andy, around seventeen years old, worked on the ground picking up the old shingles since he was afraid of heights. His job was important and greatly appreciated.

My youngest son Aaron was around five years old he begged to get on the roof with Keilan and me. Never giving up with his plea Keilan said, “Hopper let that boy come on the roof.” I took my safety belt wrapped it around him, placed him near the peak of the roof, and nailed the safety line to the roof. His tenacity was unbelievable. I cherish the thought of my boys helping that day.

I have spent a lot of time on roofs. One time the roof over the overhead crane at the cement plant was six inches deep in cement, lime, and coal dust which had hardened over the years. Several of us were deployed with small jack hammers, number two shovels, and wheelbarrows to remove the sediment.

The roof was around seventy-five feet high and had a slight pitch requiring safety belts and ropes which we clamped to a cable running the length of roof. Co-worker Billy Tillery took a small jackhammer and started breaking the sediment. Before he started, he pulled his safety rope to insure he would not fall from the roof. When he tugged it, one of the braces holding the cable broke one the weld that held it to the roof.

We had to wait until a welder did what we call “lick the calf” again. After he rewelded the brace we went back to work. Co-ordinating our efforts we started removing the broken pieces by dumping them over the side of the roof. The updraft beside the building blew the dust back into our faces.

With jackhammers pounding, shovels filling wheelbarrows, and the dumping work went well until Billy stopped his jackhammer and began waving us back to the top of the roof. Removing our ear protection Billy yelled, “Y’all get back.” His jackhammer went through the roof.

Through years of deposit and deterioration caused by the chemicals in the dust, the tin roof was thin as a screen door. Safety personnel removed us from the roof and contractors removed what was left of the roof and replaced it with new metal roofing.

Our Sunday school was: And again he entered into Capernaum after some days; and it was noised that he was in the house. And straightway many were gathered together, insomuch that there was no room to receive them, no, not so much as about the door: and he preached the word unto them. And they come unto him, bringing one sick of the palsy, which was borne of four. And when they could not come nigh unto him for the press, they uncovered the roof where he was: and when they had broken it up, they let down the bed wherein the sick of the palsy lay. When Jesus saw their faith, he said unto the sick of the palsy, Son, thy sins be forgiven thee Mark 2:1-5 KJV

 

The focus of the lesson was that Jesus healed a paralytic (παραλυτικός) man. The Bible included how the four friends uncovered the roof lowering the man where Jesus was healing folks. The home belonged to Peter. The account of uncovering the roof is important, not as significant as the man being healed spiritually and physically but included for a reason.

Some of my classmates felt that the uncovering the roof was irrelevant, but I think is demonstrates the faith of friends of the paralytic.

Having worked on many roofs it took some effort to remove tiles to create a hole large enough to lower a man on a bed, mat, or pallet (κράβαττος means mattress). Their faith was strong enough that they were creative in getting their friend an audience with Jesus. They were cooperative exemplifying teamwork. They were coordinated in getting their friend on the roof, removing the tiles, and lowering him down. They were not concerned with recognition just urgent for their friend to see and experience the power of Jesus.

I learned a long time ago that helping people in need is the ministry of inconvenience. I am sure that the four men replaced Peter’s roof.