
How many Presbyterians does it take to change a tap washer? Two. One (my son) to have the necessary arm-muscle to rotate the ring-spanner to undo the bolt that was previously tightened by some protein-pill-popping-plumber; and two (me) to have the brains to suspect the hardware person who told me all I needed a 20mm spanner, such that I walked out of the shop with not just the 20mm spanner but also the 21mm spanner – just in case.
Well, it was a real father and son moment. Like Joshua and his armour-bearer. Hillary and Tenzing. Torvill and Dean. Frodo and Sam. The bolt loosened under the tension of the huge muscular arm holding the 21mm spanner, and before you could say ‘copper pipe’, the old washers were out, the new washers were in, the bolt was retightened with the 21mm spanner rotated by the huge muscular arm. And the third Presbyterian (wife) was very happy.
How may Saviours does it take to save the world? Just one. For no one else could be found with the brains nor the muscle. “The Lord looked and was displeased that there was no justice. He saw that there was no one, he was appalled that there was no one to intervene; so his own arm achieved salvation for him, and his own righteousness sustained him.” Just one was needed: the Wonderful Counsellor (brains) and Mighty God (muscle), to change our broken hearts, and to wash the world with grace and love.


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