Cottage to Palace

Across the street was a small cottage, an old house that was empty with signs warning of asbestos. To be truthful, we all agreed we would gladly live in a house just like it this close to the beach. It looked perfectly adequate and simple. One day we noticed some workers tearing down the blue siding of the house, revealing the framing and insulation.

A few days later we heard a great commotion and saw an enormous jaw ripping up the shrubs, fences and driveway. What? Were they going to tear down the whole house?! We went outside to watch.

In one chomp the whole garage collapsed.

We watched as the garage, house, fence and foundation disappeared bite by bite. It was painful to watch. In a matter of a lunch hour a dwelling for families for decades was gone.

It brought to mind the quote by C.S. Lewis, from mere Christianity:

“Imagine yourself as a living house. God comes in to rebuild that house. At first, perhaps, you can understand what He is doing. He is getting the drains right and stopping the leaks in the roof and so on; you knew that those jobs needed doing and so you are not surprised. But presently He starts knocking the house about in a way that hurts abominably and does not seem to make any sense. What on earth is He up to? The explanation is that He is building quite a different house from the one you thought of - throwing out a new wing here, putting on an extra floor there, running up towers, making courtyards. You thought you were being made into a decent little cottage: but He is building a palace. He intends to come and live in it Himself.”

Have you ever felt perfectly comfortable in your little life, perfectly adequate, and then suddenly it feels like you are being torn apart? Have you ever felt like you've been leveled by your circumstances, your weaknesses or events in your life? I have, many times.

This little empty lot has a clean slate. Soon a new home will be built. It will be free of asbestos; it will have better bathrooms and a kitchen; it will have a more solid foundation (it was a pretty weak foundation, once exposed.) Maybe it will have a beautiful porch with flowering gardens.  

I have learned, and continue to learn, that trusting in God is easier than resisting the changes and challenges in our lives. He knows what is possible for us to become. While we can't always see it at any given moment, He sees and knows all. 

I wish we were here to see the rebuilding. I bet the new place will be magnificent!