PROCESS: a systematic series of actions directed towards some end; a continuous action, operation, or series of changes taking place in a definite manner.
My continuous series of actions? Painting...directed towards finishing each room of this house! The changes that happen each week are making definite marks.
Keith asked me the other day if I miss our other home. I said, "I miss our home, but not the house." This house renovation business is a PROCESS. Each action and task pushes us forward towards making the house into a home. I came across our framed family pictures the other day while working on the dining room. It reminded me how those photos help a house feel more comfortable and cozy. Yesterday I hung a few of them. It feels better that way.
This weekend the dining room was our project. Note the series of actions we took below. What a PROCESS this one was!
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| This is how it looked the first time we walked through the house. (looking towards the living room and entry hall) |
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| And another view...(looking towards the kitchen) |
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| During the demo phase...we opened the wall between the kitchen and dining room. Note the dust in the air from taking out all the plaster and lathing. |
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| Now you can see right through the wall into the kitchen. |
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| The floors were covered with tar paper backing from layers of linoleum. 12 grit sandpaper and lots of muscle took it off, revealing old pine flooring...with evidence that there was a lovely inlay around the edges at one time. |
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| And now...(looking towards the kitchen) |
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| Another view...(looking towards the living room and entry hall) We moved the chandelier from the living room into the dining room. I'll talk more about that in a future blog. |
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| Those double doors into the entry hall are still in process. They'll be painted white eventually. So, as always, with an outward process comes an inward process... This morning in church our sermon was about transformation. This is the work of God. Transforming us. The house is teaching me about the PROCESS of transformation in our spiritual walk. Each action and spiritual discipline carries us towards the end...to be like Christ. I heard it said that it is not the destination that matters, but the journey. I am trusting God to carry me on this journey of life. And along the way, He is transforming me to be more like Him. I must embrace this PROCESS. How about you? What about your journey? Are you aware of the PROCESS? I'm glad we are in this together. "And we...are being transformed into his likeness with ever-increasing glory, which comes from the Lord..." 2 Corinthians 3:18 Father, today I choose to embrace the PROCESS. Change me to be more like you. I trust you to handle each circumstance and use it to transform me on the inside. It is for your glory that I live and breathe. Amen. |
It's so sweet that you not only have a before/after pic, but that you have a during...a fitting metaphor since we often only hear of folks once they're ready for the "after" unveiling of the process of their lives, when it's most helpful to see the "during" since that's where most of us are!
ReplyDeleteso neat to see all parts of the PROCESS when I was involved in one aspect of it. It gives me both perspective and ownership in the whole. A reminder to me to invite others into parts of my process while not requiring they be either part of the whole or not at all.
ReplyDeleteThanks, Tim and Dave...men with addtional insight and wisdom as we are on the journey together.
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