The Love of the Bricklayer
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(a Steve Orr Bible reflection)
Dad only worked at the brothel for about a week.
There was in my hometown what was then called “a house of ill repute.” I could write a lot about that place and the fact that even children knew about it. But that is a story for another time.
This is how Dad came to work at our everybody-knows-about-it brothel. Dad worked for his cousin, Norman, as a “brick and tile man” or “brickie.” Norman, a general contractor, had agreed to make some repairs and updates to the building. Included was a new patio across the back of the house and a brick walkway to the back gate. Sure, what they were doing was far from building a cathedral. But no one on the crew could afford to turn down a paying job, Dad included. So, every day, for about a week, he worked on that patio and walkway—brick...by brick...by brick.
Nothing says we must always be happy about our job, whistle while we work, or sing out "Hi ho, hi ho; it's off to work we go." Sometimes, we just aren't in the mood for all that. Sometimes, the job is just a thing you need to do. It’s not always about building cathedrals. The real question, at the end of the day, is: Did we do our work correctly and completely? If the answer is “yes,” then we built whatever needed building.
We likely need to apply a similar work ethic to loving people. In this week's scripture from Romans, we get the bricklayer version of loving—the step-by-step approach. Contrast it to the cathedral version, if you will, in 1 Corinthians 13. Perhaps when you've read the Corinthians chapter, you've wondered exactly how one goes about being patient, kind, not envious, not boastful, not proud, not dishonoring others, not self-seeking, not easily angered, not keeping a record of wrongs, not delighting in evil, always trusting, always hoping, always persevering, and rejoicing in the truth.
The thought of trying to accomplish that list seems pretty daunting.
Sometimes all the lofty goals and wishes aren’t enough to get us where we need to be, not enough to ensure the actual work gets done—even when the goal is loving. Those lofty goals in Corinthians need practical, brick-by-brick, action steps. And we have them in Romans 12:9-21. Next, we need do the work, step by step, just like a brickie laying one brick after another.
Who knows, we really might be building a cathedral.
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BONUS MATERIAL
A TO-DO LIST FROM THE OTHER LOVE CHAPTER (Roman’s 12: 9-21)
Your love must be real.
Hate what is evil. Hold on to what is good.
Love each other like brothers and sisters.
Give your brothers and sisters more honor than you want for yourself.
Do not be lazy but work hard. Serve the Lord with all your heart.
Be joyful because you have hope.
Be patient when trouble comes.
Pray at all times.
Share with God’s people who need help.
Bring strangers in need into your home.
Wish good for those who do bad things to you. Wish them well and do not curse them.
Be happy with those who are happy.
Be sad with those who are sad.
Live together in peace with each other.
Do not be proud, but make friends with those who seem unimportant. Do not think how smart you are.
If someone does wrong to you, do not pay him back by doing wrong to him.
Try to do what everyone thinks is right. Do your best to live in peace with everyone.
Do not try to punish others when they wrong you. Wait for God to punish.
If your enemy is hungry, feed him; if your enemy is thirsty, give him a drink.
Do not let evil defeat you. Defeat evil by doing good.
NOTE: In Romans 12:17-21, Paul quotes Proverbs 25:21-22: “If your enemy is hungry, feed him. If he is thirsty, give him a drink. Doing this will be like pouring burning coals on his head. And the Lord will reward you.”
"O world, as God has made it! All is beauty:
And knowing this, is love, and love is duty."
—Robert Browning
The Guardian Angel
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DaySpring’s Lectionary Breakfast meets Friday mornings on Zoom* and in Waco at Our Breakfast Place. We start at 8:00, spending an hour eating, reading, talking, praying, and laughing.
Blessings,
Steve
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*Zoom link (Zoom allows you to mute the camera and the microphone if you don’t wish to be seen or heard):
SCRIPTURES FOR SUNDAY AND THE COMING WEEK
Exodus 3:1-15
Psalm 105:1-6, 23-26, 45b
Jeremiah 15:15-21
Psalm 26:1-8
Romans 12:9-21
Matthew 16:21-28
Proper 17 (22) (August 30, 2026)
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