Dreams: Built to Last

Henry David Thoreau once wrote, “If you have built castles in the air, your work need not be lost; that is where they should be. Now put foundations under them.” This is the vocation of Tony Baustert. Each day in a small corner of the world in Oklahoma City, he fashions his ideas with scratch metal. What begins with a vision soon forms into a concrete foundation— a roaring, 100+ horsepower, smooth riding custom built motorcycle.

Originality, style, and class are words to describe Tony’s work. He is the owner of T-Fab: Custom Metal Fabrication in Oklahoma City, OK (http://tfabmetal.com/). If you met Tony on the street, he would look no different than you and me. Often wearing blue jeans and a t-shirt, he is just a good ole’ boy who lives modestly in a small home several miles outside Oklahoma City. His solid stature and boisterous voice commands your attention when he describes his passion for his work.

However, do not let his appearance mislead you. Deep inside this man resides breathtaking images and dreams that he brings to life in his motorcycle shop. Bob Brendle has remarked, “Sculpture is a three-dimensional object with a message.” With each creation, Tony autographs the finishing touches on his messages. They are waiting to be released on the street and to breathe life into their owners. They have a way of instilling freedom through the handlebars.

Pouring hard work and devotion into his work, Tony spends hours with each motorcycle shaping and molding them into the perfect image. Thinking about Tony’s work reminds me of a verse concerning God’s hand. Paul wrote in Ephesians 2:10, “For we are His workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand so that we would walk in them.” How often have we considered the passion and carefulness of God’s work in each of our lives? Each one of us is a story waiting to be released and to breathe life into others.