If you've been following along, you likely already know that we are several seasons now into a property reclamation passion project that is all about restoration, legacy and family.
And it's a mess.
This week it was an outbuilding we've always called "The Boys' Annex" that had to come down. It was caving in anyways, and was required by the building permit from the township to be removed before inspection next month.
Maybe it sounds easy to tear down a building, but it's not. There are so many piles you have to sort the wreckage into; asphalt shingles, fiberglass insulation, old paint cans and other hazardous materials.
Then there's the fact that despite our mocking of 'old building standards' when these structures were first erected, the silly thing just won't come down! All the disassembling, knocking out supporting beams, and cranking on the winch is only barely eventually enough to get three walls to collapse. And for that one wall, I'm convinced, due to timing, that it was a mighty sneeze from Ken that brought it down. (If you don't think this is possible, you haven't heard my husband sneeze!)
So we've done all the grunt work and sweat equity, and most of it is down. And now we have a mighty mess to clean up.
All towards the vision of having a tranquil place for the next generation of family and friends to retreat to.
If not for the vision, it would be ridiculous. And overwhelming. Moving towards reclamation is a crazy, disorganized, sometimes even dangerous process.
Maybe you know this.
And now, oh so many Scriptures come to mind about growing and how messy it can be. But I'll just touch on two.
"And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast."
1 Peter 5:10
After you have suffered. In the midst of the mess.
"I am confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus."
Philippians 1:6
And in both these texts it's notable that it's Jesus doing all the reclamation work, not us by our own efforts. Yes, I think there is hard work involved in any kind of healing or restoration. But it's more on Him than it is on us. Good thing, because to be honest, in my own healing stories, it would never have happened if it was up to me.
So if you are in the middle of a mess right now, hang in. It's almost always like that on the way to something grand.
The water is ridiculously calm this morning, which is a lovely contrast to the messy job we will tackle again today.
Hope your Tuesday is spectacular in all the ways you need it to be
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