No Man is Above the Law

By: Andy Oldham

Have you ever known anyone who knew everything, about everything, and didn’t have a problem letting you know it? You know, the kind of guy that when you try to tell him something, he already knows it, and doesn’t need your contribution? Sure you have. This is a true tale is about Delbert Pryor (last name changed). Delbert is one of the best know-it-all’s I have never known.

I had just graduated from High School and I worked in the Maplewood Cemetery until summers end. Once College started I worked nights at Container Corporation of America manufacturing cardboard boxes.

The box-folder machine I worked on broke down. The plant troubleshooter arrived to assess and determine what was needed for repair. Because we were paid by piecework, the machine operator and I wanted to get the repair done as fast as possible. For every minute we were down we were losing money.

“I’ll be right back”, he said. “It looks like an electrical problem.”

A few minutes had passed when a short little man arrived with his cap slightly cocked to one side. “I’m strong to the finich’, cause I eat me spinach.” If he’d had larger forearms I would have called him Popeye. He was a spittin’ image of the character I loved so much as a kid.

I introduced myself to him. He mumbled something just before he spit a wad of tobacco in a can he was carrying around. I think it was his name. Bob, my machine operator, confirmed he had, indeed, said, “I’m Delbert.” I reached to shake his hand when he turned toward the machine. I squatted down to see what he was working on and noticed he was moving some of the wires in the machines main electrical box.

“Delbert?” He ignored me. “Delbert?” I said a bit louder. He ignored me again. “Don’t you think you need to turn the main power off before you work on those wires?” I shouted this time, just in case he was hard of hearing above the other machinery. He stood up and looked me square in the eyes.

Do you know who I am? I am the electrician in this plant; I have been for 32 years. I don’t need you to tell me how to do my job. I know what I am doing. Now, you get out of my way, go stand by your machine operator and I will have you back to work in few minutes.

I got the message. Delbert was above the law. I turned to walk away when I heard, zzzzzt, zzzzzt! I turned around. Delbert was laid out on the floor. I ran to see if he was hurt. Fortunately for him, he was fine. He was a little shaken, but okay. He got up, marched to the main power box and turned off the machine. Not once, even after several weeks, did he look or speak to me again. Sometimes I believe he went out of his way to keep from even walking by my station.

I learned two things as a young man that year. Sometimes, even know-it-alls, think they know so much they don’t have to follow the laws of electricity. What we are taught early in life about turning off electricity before we work on it. The law is not there to control us or hinder us from doing things faster. These laws are there because they are a proven fact that if we follow them we will not get hurt.

 The same is true of God’s word. He knew us before we left our mother’s womb. He created us, and He knows everything that will harm us. His laws are not there so that he can control us. They are not written so that we cannot enjoy life. No, he places these commandments in His word so that we will be warned of the consequences of not following them. We are given these rules because He knows what is good for us. God wants us to have a abundant life [1] When Jesus was asked what the greatest commandment in the Law was, . . . He said to him, ‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind.’ [2]

Have you given much thought to this commandment, and why it is so important? It is essential because everything we do for God finds its foundation built upon this command. [3]

 And the second commandment is like it , you shall love your neighbor as yourself [4]

“The list of rules is rather extensive and detailed as one reads through certain Old Testament passages. But Paul would later say that what the law asks is very simple:   “The only obligation you have is to love one another. Whoever does this has obeyed the Law… If you love others, you will never do them wrong; to love, then, is to obey the whole Law” (Romans 13, 8, 10). [5]

“For the whole Law is summed up in one commandment: ‘Love your neighbor as you love yourself’” (Galatians 5:14).

We will never know every thing there is to know about the laws of electricity. But as we learn them we need to apply them to our life and remember them for our safety. This is also true of God’s Word. We will never know all there is to know about God’s Word, but if we start with this, this one commandment we are drawn closer and closer to Him, and He draws closer to us. That irrevocable promise is our bonding to Christ, and it is when we begin to understand, and want to follow His other commands. This brings us the more abundant life He has promised. [6]

Whenever I am in the presence of a know-it-all I am reminded that only God knows all things.

After Christmas, that year, Delbert discovered he had cancer. He lived only a few short months. I was shocked and honored that in planning his funeral he requested that I be one of his pallbearers. He didn’t know me. But I have learned through life’s little quirks that even the small things we say, help others to realize they are important. The same is true of the things we say and portray about the fragrance of Christ in our lives. I was pleased that Delbert let me know how important I was to him through this privilege; I was appreciated after all.

__________

Andy Oldham is the founder and publisher of Christian Grandfather Magazine. He received his B.A. in religious studies and education from Anderson University. He has served as pastor to senior adults, and fills pulpits when needed. Andy taught memoir classes at the local library and after writing his personal memoirs wrote Everlasting Cronies. His column in the Northside Sun Newspaper was well received by his community. A poem, Winters Grace, has been honored by the Mississippi Poetry Society. He and his wife, Barbara, enjoy retirement in Madison, Mississippi.

This article was revised from its original publication in the Northside Sun Newspaper, 2015

Feature Photo used with permision