Maintenance Required

Back Story:

We were tent camping with friends.  It rained.  Turns out our old tent isn't waterproof.  We decided to drive home for sleeping, and early this morning Andy and the boys headed back to the campsite to finish packing and get in another few hours of play with our friends while I stayed home with the baby.  
It's Sunday, and technically I was now free to go to church.  I decided to treasure my quiet morning at home, though, and sat with my baby in the swing on my back porch to worship Jesus right here.  

Cover Story:  

We swung in this quiet, slow, perfect-weather morning and soaked in Jesus.  I sang along to Pandora.  I listened to the words.  I listened to the morning around me.  I wrote down lyrics:

"You have called me higher,
You have called me deeper, 
And I will go where You will lead me, Lord..."

"This is my Father's world.
O, let me never forget
That though the wrong seems oft' so strong, 
God is the Ruler yet!
This is my Father's world.
The battle is not done:
Jesus Who died will be satisfied,
And earth and heaven be one!"

"And when before the Throne
I stand in Him complete
'Jesus died my soul to save'
My lips shall still repeat."

As I swang, 
As I sang, 
I looked at this:

It is not fancy.  It is not beautiful.  Usually I look at this and see a reminder of what I don't have--the money to fix everything at once; or that thing I (think I) want, maintenance-free beauty, cleanliness, and simplicity. 

Just now I looked at this and understood a Truth: Jesus impressed on me how much I would miss, how shallow my life would be, if my physical life was "picture-perfect."
   
The physical always, always has a spiritual and sacred counterpart. 

The physical maintenance required to manage my space, and the necessity of prioritizing repairs and improvements, of doing one thing at a time--these things have spiritual significance.  These things are not only necessary, but GOOD.  They are not signs of any sort of lack, but of the wonderful truth that for as long as I live, I am given this privilege:

to keep growing 
to keep changing 
to keep trusting that God 
Who makes all things new
is faithful and just to complete His good work
in me
through me.  

"Therefore, my beloved, as you have always obeyed, so now, not only as in my presence but much more in my absence, work out your own salvation with fear and trembling, for it is God who works in you, both to will and to work for His good pleasure. Do all things without grumbling or questioning, that you may be blameless and innocent, children of God without blemish in the midst of a crooked and twisted generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world, holding fast to the word of life, so that in the day of Christ I may be proud that I did not run in vain or labor in vain."  Philippians 2:12-16

"And when before the Throne
I stand in Him complete
'Jesus died my soul to save'
My lips shall still repeat."

In Him, it will be picture-perfect when I finish this physical race and stand before His sacred throne.

Joy!