I think that the greatest gift God ever gave [humankind] is not the gift of sight but the gift of vision. Sight is a function of the eyes, but vision is a function of the heart. – Myles Munroe

And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose. – Romans 8:27-28

This is one of those posts where I have been inspired by one image (the one I took at the back of the house, above, having just finished a day of yard work). Well, that’s my jumping off place, because the photograph speaks to our story.

The story, of course, is that this house is still very much a work in progress. Having said that let’s look back at this time last year to see what progress has looked like so far. We didn’t own the house then, but we were certainly all in in terms of commitment and design and working out the moment to moment details.

So let’s have a couple of “then and now” comparisons. I think this will be fun. First. taking the photo above. Here is where we were this time last summer – then yesterday. Make sure and use the slide bar to see the contrast, it really is quite dramatic.

Gotta love the patina!

Next, the front elevation. What is easy to forget is just how much prep work was involved before the first coat of paint.

Not just scraping and priming, but cutting out rot and shoring up and foundation and flooring and carving out a closet and a laundry room and tearing out pipes and 100% re-plumbing and complete re-wiring and repairing plaster and hanging drywall and ceilings and building cabinets and all kinds of molding, as well as new HVAC and ductwork and columns and decking and masonry and fixtures and fittings…

Hope and healing are always a possibility

I thought about all this a couple of days ago when I took the family selfie on the stoop and it reminded me of the one on the porch from this time last year.

So I decided to write this post to encourage myself, to encourage the town of Tarboro, and to encourage us all. Because it is easy to get discouraged when we walk around and see so much that is not only neglected but hopelessly in disrepair. But you have to remember that this house was too.

Fact is, our house and its immediate neighbor were as bad as it gets and prime bulldozer material. Most of the historic district homes that look hopeless are actually in better shape that ours was early last year.

Believing in what is possible is a universal principle with broad applications:

• Every Tarboro home in need of restoration. All that’s required is people who believe and the will to see the project through.
• Individuals who need hope and healing in their struggles, their pain, their addiction, their family. Trust in God, be honest with yourself, be willing to do the hard work and restoration is always an option.
• Anything where we have trouble seeing beyond the distress and the decay. If we believe and if we are willing to invest ourselves in the vision then: “We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose” (Romans 8:28).

Rebekah and I could have taken this transition moment in our lives and purchased a brand new something with all the wrinkles neatly ironed out before they even formed. But we believe firmly that God is in the redemption business and we know that we experience meaning and satisfaction in our lives when we are rooted in God’s purposes.

Maybe one day we will pick an easy path… But not this time, not yet, not now – DEREK