Making a gate

I had a sense of ridiculous pleasure as our new gate swung freely. It took me way too long to make until I conceded and went to the hardware store for some helpful brackets - but after dinner (a grumpy quick hotdog for the kids) they came outside and we nailed the pickets on the frame - what was almost as pleasurable as hanging the thing was watching the attendant children's faces when in worked out ok, didn't fall off or hit the ground - "It worked" they said, surprised. Hmmm....

The reason for their surprise is my occassional half-heartedness when it comes to DIY. But this project was planned - I even drew what I was going to do to - and it has come out fine - another gate to go tomorrow! I had to change the plan a little as I worked - adapt to my capabilities as much as my materials and tools.

Not putting in the effort up front, as we all know often costs more time later. This is true for our spiritual lives as well as building projects. Our spiritual lives need the same care, attention and planning which we would give to anything else which we are working on. Many times we hear that our spiritual foundations must be string - but too often we expect that strength just to appear overnight without any effort from us.

There are just too many storms in this life not to plan and plan again in regard to our spiritual well being. The road of Christianity with no direction or plan for growth will end up leading nowhere - we are just too easily misled and derailed. For true strength we must spiritually "work out" with prayer and study and time with God. Then things will work as intended and we will get where we are meant to be.