Observations of a Dryer Sheet
I was washing the laundry one afternoon. I had just moved the clothes from the washing machine to the dryer when I pulled out a dryer sheet and was ready to throw it in on top of the clothes. I marveled how thin it was. But more important was its strength. Just on a whim, I tried to tear it by pulling it apart but found it hard to accomplish. I walked over to the window and held it up to the light. I noticed it was constructed with thousands of little fibers, all interlocking. I removed a single fiber and discovered how easy it was to rip apart.
Which is the stronger of the two, a rope or a net? A net is far stronger since it is composed of interlocking ropes. If a single rope frays or breaks, you’ve lost your load. If a part of the net breaks, you still have the rest of the net to support your load. It’s not by accident that ships use cargo nets to unload their holds. A net uses the same principal as a dryer sheet.
What has this to do with Christianity? Just simply that Christ’s Church is people. And a church is only as strong as the number of people who are willing to devote their time and talents (both gifts from God).
An old proverb from the puritan era states "Many hands make light work". The interpretation is difficult and hard jobs are easier performed by many. This can be coupled with the other proverb, "There is safety in numbers".
We can summarize these two proverbs from Ecclesiastes, Chapter 4, Verses 9 – 10
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Two are better than one: because they have a good reward for their labor For if they fall, the one will lift up his fellow: but woe to him that is alone when He falleth: for he hath not another to help him up."We can also reference this concept towards our commandaries. The safety net of any commandary is only as large as the number of Sir Knights who are willing to learn extra parts of an order, or a lecture, or serve as stage crew or trustee. The more Knights willing, the larger and stronger the safety net. Many Sir Knights, interlocking into a dryer sheet, each man only as strong as a human can be, but when working and interlocked together in Christian Fraternity, forms a strength untearable, able to over come any obstacle.