My husband is building a small shed to house the lawn tractor and a few other, smaller tools. He's designed it himself, taken his time and carefully laid out the foundation, and invested a lot of energy especially in those first stages of making sure that everything was level and square. He tested and retested those concrete blocks and the beams he placed on them with his level (okay, can't resist a joke: you know a guy's on the level if his bubble's in the middle), and made minor adjustments in the depth the concrete went into the earth, before ever he screwed in the first screw to the wood.
It might seem like a lot of trouble to go to, but that extra time and effort is going to be well worth it. The building will be more sturdy, more reliable, and more long-lasting. It will withstand everything that the north wind and the snow and ice will throw at it in the winter, and it will protect its contents from the rain during the rest of the year.
Starting from a level foundation and making sure that all the parts are square - that is, perpendicular to each other and fitting the way they're supposed to fit - will only enhance the function of the shed and turn it into an asset rather than a liability.
The process is a visual reminder of how to build a life. Make sure the foundation is level, spend extra time, as much as you need to. Use tools to measure and be certain that the foundation is square because you'll be building on it - if the foundation is wrong, the whole thing will be crooked. Think about how it's going to be, plan your escape route (the door) and a way to see out (the window). Frame it out and make sure THAT is square and true.
"True" is hard to explain - carpenters understand the term. It means that the integrity of the structure is right, that the corners are not just square (that is, coming to a 90 degree angle) but that the framing is in a straight line all the way along, and that both the framing and fitted corners, put together, will support the roof and the walls as a result.
Plainly put, the building process is a metaphor of life and the foundation in particular, is one of relationship with God - it's the foundation for living life as it really is. Life needs to be grounded on something that is going to stand the test of time... and relationship with God is that something. The floor and the framing are relationship with the self. Nothing external can hang on those for very long unless the framing is True. Self-care, setting boundaries, letting go of the need to control or look after others to the exclusion of the self - these are good structure for what will eventually be what everyone else sees: relationships with others (the walls). Top that off with healthy boundaries between self and others (the roof). That keeps the floor and the framing from getting soggy and rotten (grin) and keeps the tools from rusting.
The analogy is rather loose; I only just thought of this one tonight as I heard my hubby talk about his project. But I believe that it has merit.
Happy building.
It might seem like a lot of trouble to go to, but that extra time and effort is going to be well worth it. The building will be more sturdy, more reliable, and more long-lasting. It will withstand everything that the north wind and the snow and ice will throw at it in the winter, and it will protect its contents from the rain during the rest of the year.
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| Here's the link where I got this photo |
The process is a visual reminder of how to build a life. Make sure the foundation is level, spend extra time, as much as you need to. Use tools to measure and be certain that the foundation is square because you'll be building on it - if the foundation is wrong, the whole thing will be crooked. Think about how it's going to be, plan your escape route (the door) and a way to see out (the window). Frame it out and make sure THAT is square and true.
"True" is hard to explain - carpenters understand the term. It means that the integrity of the structure is right, that the corners are not just square (that is, coming to a 90 degree angle) but that the framing is in a straight line all the way along, and that both the framing and fitted corners, put together, will support the roof and the walls as a result.
Plainly put, the building process is a metaphor of life and the foundation in particular, is one of relationship with God - it's the foundation for living life as it really is. Life needs to be grounded on something that is going to stand the test of time... and relationship with God is that something. The floor and the framing are relationship with the self. Nothing external can hang on those for very long unless the framing is True. Self-care, setting boundaries, letting go of the need to control or look after others to the exclusion of the self - these are good structure for what will eventually be what everyone else sees: relationships with others (the walls). Top that off with healthy boundaries between self and others (the roof). That keeps the floor and the framing from getting soggy and rotten (grin) and keeps the tools from rusting.
The analogy is rather loose; I only just thought of this one tonight as I heard my hubby talk about his project. But I believe that it has merit.
Happy building.
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