If you follow me on social media, you have probably seen a few of these posts pop up from time to time. They’re all titled From The Shop Stool, and they are usually built around a phrase I’ve heard someone say, something I’ve read, or sometimes something that has actually happened to me.

Many times, I find that I can relate those thoughts to something that happens in the shop or with an old car or truck.

Thinking in Car Terms

As you may know, I’m pretty fond of old cars and trucks. So if I can connect an idea or lesson to something automotive, I tend to understand it better. That might seem a little strange to some people, but it works for me. And if it helps me see things a little clearer, I figure there’s a good chance someone else out there might relate to it the same way.

The Community

This idea also comes from my passion for the automotive community — something I care deeply about and try to promote whenever I can.

You see, I’ve always looked at an old car or truck as more of a tool to meet people and connect with others. It’s never really been about winning a trophy or showing off what I have. For me, it has always been about the people I’ve met along the way — the friendships built over time and the community that comes with it.

Grease Monkey Gospel

Out of those same thoughts also came Grease Monkey Gospel, which I post on the StillKruzn Arkansas page every Sunday morning. Those are short reflections that usually include a quick thought along with a piece of scripture to go with it.

So now you know where it came from.

The Why

Over time, I started having more and more of these thoughts and ideas about things I had experienced or learned. And I know exactly who put them there and why. The problem was figuring out what to do with them.

I struggled for a while with the idea of posting any of it publicly — especially on the StillKruzn Arkansas page. I wouldn’t say it was fear exactly, but I wasn’t sure how it would be received. I didn’t want to offend anyone or risk losing followers who were there mainly for the automotive side of things.

For some context, StillKruzn Arkansas was built to grow a community of like-minded automotive gearheads, much like myself. So naturally, I didn’t want to upset something I had worked hard to build.

Taking the Step

After talking with a friend, thinking about it quite a bit, and spending some time in prayer, I finally decided to post the first Grease Monkey Gospel. The response ended up being much better than I expected. In fact, some people have even thanked me for sharing them.

At that point I decided that if something I wrote helped even one person, then all the time, thought, and effort that went into it was worth it.

From the Stool

So there you have it — a little look inside what goes on in my head and heart from time to time. It can still feel a little uncertain putting these thoughts out there, never quite knowing how they’ll be received, but so far it seems to be working out just fine.

If you’ve made it this far, thanks for taking the time to read it. When you have a chance, feel free to look through some of the other pieces I’ve written here. Hopefully you’ll find something useful — or at the very least something that makes you think for a minute.

From the Shop Stool