When King Solomon got ready to build the Temple, he followed his father’s instructions and wrote to their mutual friend, King Hiram of Tyre. “I’m ready to buy some lumber,” Solomon said. “My dad made a deal with you several years ago, asking you to send me your best timber when the time was right for me to build.”

King Hiram agreed to the price Solomon offered. Then he added a postscript to the letter, “I’m also sending you the most skillful craftsman in our land. He knows how to build just about anything. His name is Huram-abi.”

The king went on to list Huram-abi’s amazing skill set. The Bible doesn’t tell us much more about him except that his mother was from the tribe of Dan (an Israelite) and his father was from Tyre. But, I wonder about the guy. All the years he was learning to work in gold, silver, bronze, and wood, did he wonder where his apprenticeship would lead? When he was experimenting with purple, violet, linen, and crimson fabrics or engraving intricate designs, did he imagine hanging them one day in a magnificent Temple?

Could be.

But, maybe recognition wasn’t high on his list. Maybe he just kept working at his craft, perfecting his art, doing his best in every job even if that meant painting arrows on sign posts at the crossroads. Then, one ordinary day, his king  said, “Hey , Abi, they need a skilled artisan over in Jerusalem, and I think we should send you. Somebody else can paint the arrows for a while, because you have been prepared for such a time as this.”