Interviewing Brad on Carpentry

Brad has worked as a carpenter for 25 years now and would describe it as a “transcendent experience.” He started at the age of three when his apprenticeship began, and carpentry has been his whole life. When asked why he chose this profession, Brad replied, “I chose to be a carpenter because Jesus was a carpenter, and I wanted to follow in his footsteps.” For Brad, carpentry is a spiritual experience. A regular day for Brad begins with waking up and praying to give him the spark needed for his day of work. He then enters the workshop and as he puts it, “I let the wood speak to me.” For Brad the best part of the job is completing a piece and knowing he created something and that it is good.  For Brad, carpentry is his way of life, and wood his medium.