INSULATION

 This past weekend was a turning point in the renovation project. Demolition is finished and Keith and I spent a full two days putting insulation in the exterior walls and in the ceiling of the second floor. It truly was a task that took some perseverance and resolve to complete.

We worked til noon...not feeling as though we were getting very far at all. The weather outside was so lovely. We had the windows wide open, the sun was shining and the birds were singing. And we were stuck inside with a tedious task... getting hot and itchy in our long sleeve shirts... wearing stuffy masks...

 

Finally lunch time came and we gave ourselves permission to take a break. The shining sun and cool breezes drew us outside. We enjoyed a sandwich on the steps and roamed around the overgrown yard simply enjoying the day. It didn't take long before I was pulling out weeds and Keith hauled out the lawn mower. We would much rather be tending the yard work on a day like this!

As usual, I was having a conversation with God in my head while working. Two words came to mind..."insulation" and "weeds". Hmmmmm. What little nugget might I learn from this? Here is what God spoke to me: "It is good to work on INSULATION. I need to insulate my life from things at times. It is for my protection. But so often I am distracted...by weeds. And instead of doing the hard work of "insulating" myself with God's Word and spiritual disciplines, I fill my days with tending the weeds; following trailing vines and neglecting the necessary task at hand."

Soon, back inside we went. We had a job to do and a deadline to meet. After two eleven-hour days of work, the insulation was completed! We celebrated with some high fives and happy hearts.

These couple days taught me the importance of disciplining myself to stay on task and not to get distracted. I want my spiritual life to be the same. 

"Lord, help me stay on the path that you have called me to. I don't want to wander or fill my time with things not of you. Keep me strong and steady. Guard my mind and my heart."

 Therefore, stand firm. Let nothing move you. 

Always give yourselves fully to the work of the Lord, 

because you know that your labor in the Lord is not in vain. 

1 Corinthians 15:58