Looking into the Welding Torch

Welding is a fabrication process for joining metals or other hard substances by causing coalescence.  It is different from soldering or brazing because welding using absurdly hot temperatures to create molten states so as to actually join two separate pieces of metal.  There are all sorts of different types of weld types, but the process of all of them causes an unbelievably bright light.  This is why welding lenses, in glasses or helmets, are a necessity when welding.  It is this phenomenon that Jim was concerned about when he brought his son, Bradley, to his workshop.

Bradley was nine or ten when Jim finally decided it was time to show his son the workshop.  Jim was a sculptor.  He did large metal installations for museums and corporate headquarters.  He almost exclusively worked in metal; his primary canvas was steel beams and his main brush was an arc welder.  Because of the industrial-sized danger, he waited until Bradley was old enough to stay safe before he brought him to the shop.

As they were going in, Jim made sure to repeat himself several times that Bradley was to always keep his helmet up when daddy was welding and to never look at the welding directly or it could burn his eyes.  Yet, despite Jim's best intentional effort, Bradley lifted his mask and looked right at the bright lights of his father's welds; more than once even.  By the end of the time in the shop, Bradley could barely see anything other than a reddish spot.

Jim, while driving Bradley to the hospital and he was infuriated and worried about his son, asked Bradley, "Why didn't you listen to me?  I told you that it would hurt you and I warned you so much.  Why did not listen to daddy?"  The young boy, crying and scared because his vision was so hampered, looked at his dad and answered, "The light just looked so pretty.  I couldn't stop myself.  I didn't think it would really hurt me if I looked at it.  But after I saw it once, I just couldn't stop."

This sort of story is all-too familiar but it might be startling to recognize that this very sort of disobedience occurred even at the very beginning of creation, as chronicled in Genesis 3.  Adam and Eve were given freedom and dominion over every fruit and animal in the whole garden.  God's only request was that they not eat of the fruit from the tree of knowledge, for in doing so they would surely die.

Unfortunately, neither Eve nor Adam could refuse the beautiful fruit or the serpent's promise of knowledge.  They did not heed to the warnings of God and, like His word always does, God's warnings proved themselves to be true as humanity was banished from the Garden and cursed with death for their sin.

The point is listening to the Lord's warnings when it comes to life decisions, both small and large.  This means that we will listen to the Holy Spirit speaking within us.  But we will also pay attention to the counsel of godly people around us.  If we practice this kind of awareness and discipline, we will be far-less likely to find ourselves blind from staring into the sun.  Let us then heed the warnings of God because He always knows best.