“He who began a good work in you will bring it to completion." ~ Philippians 1:6
No one could see what Jackson saw in that old, dilapidated
house. It mirrored his own life’s shambles – unemployed, divorced, PTSD.
Jackson stepped into the run-down home that’d once been a
stunning place for a family to live safely. Over time, through neglect and the
city’s systemic downfall, it’d fallen into disrepair: filthy, repulsive, and dangerous.
She had some issues but was entitled to them given her decades
of decay.
Passerby couldn’t fathom why Jackson worked so hard
replacing the roof, windows, and doors. Or why he bothered to sand down the
chipped paint.
Despite splinters and muscle strains, he couldn’t stop. The
house constantly asked for more – more of his time, money, and energy. He
sacrificed hundreds of weekends at the altar of restoration, with endless to-do
lists and a love-hate relationship that was addictively alluring.
But he labored on. Jackson knew something others didn’t. He
knew how the house had been built and what it was meant to be… because he’d
built it.
Restoring it to its original glory reversed the mirror back
at him, reflecting new perspectives that he hadn’t considered before: the value
of time and money, the importance placed on things new and “improved,” and
finally how humble it made him feel.
During its tenure, six families had called it home, filling
closets and drawers with their heirlooms, beliefs, and sentiments. Many of those
treasures were tender, motivating, and joyful. But there was also clutter metaphorically
accrued in their hearts’ darkest spaces - disappointments, regrets, and
self-doubt, that robbed them of happiness and purpose in their lives.
It took years, one could even say a lifetime, but eventually,
others saw it too. No one recognized the elegant mansion that now replaced the
abandoned house. There’s something about being human that longs for, and
delights in, seeing something restored.
In the process, he’d learned more about himself and life than
he had about replacing gutters.
Upon reflection, Jackson marveled at the comparison between
the process of restoring an old house to God's work in his own life. One of the
most important considerations in restoration is that as much as possible of the
original material must be preserved.
The story reveals how the chaos of rebuilding can result in
a beautiful masterpiece, similar to how God can restore a broken person with
joy and peace. This points to the redeeming miracles of God’s work as only He can
make a broken, ugly world beautiful and whole again.
Lord Almighty, as we navigate the uncertainty
of our country’s future, renew our trust that You have a plan for us that
brings restoration and renewal in ways that exceed our imagination. Remind us
that You are the God of restoration. Amen
