The Power of a Team- From May 2011

This is a good ending!

Everything is calm now, and I can hear the rain dripping into the dumpster that sits outside the window.  The rain came even as the men were still on the roof nailing in the last nail.

Yesterday, and the day before...  there was no calmness like this.

Hammers, saws, pounding... children under foot.  It was still music, just a different type.

It all started two days ago with a 3 man crew.  My dad, a friend and I began stripping the old roof early in the morning.  The dew still clung to the roof.  With shingle shovels in hand and great ambition the work began.

The three of us worked over and under peeling back the layers of shingles and tar paper.  Even good materials only last so long...  By about 1:30 we were finished, and the waiting game ensued.  The new shingles should be here any time and we would distribute them around the roof.   We waited... and waited...  and after several calls, I realized my materials would not be delivered... not today.  Call it a mix up- call it a miscommunication, but rain was coming and I had no materials and a work crew on the way!

With very little time left before the supply company closed, my friend and I sprung into action.  A trailer was borrowed, but when we arrived at the supply company it would not hold all of the materials. 

My father came to the rescue and we loaded the rest onto his truck.  The leaf springs were strained with the weight of it all, but we were on our way back home. 

It was an adventure getting everything home, but there it all was...  Sitting in my driveway ready to be installed the next day.  And then there was quiet.  Night...  sleep...  resting in Him.

The next day brought new light, new people.  And- many hands make light work. 

"Even good materials only last so long"

As the crew began looking over the damaged boards, they literally crumbled like wet cardboard.  We had no idea the roof had areas of damage like the one pictured above.  We had several contractors insist that this was a solid roof that could be "shingled over". 

Things hidden, when dealt with properly will be sound in the long run.  But you have to want to deal with them, not just cover them over.  Reminds me of sin, which can also be hidden and is destructive.  Taken to the Lord in prayer, allows for renewing and restoration. 

Restoration...yes, that is what we were working on today.

In order to restore the damaged areas new boards had to be cut to be used as a foundation for the new shingles.  The windows had to be removed to install flashing and new boards.  It had to be done right, or new leaks would soon destroy the new wood. 

One problem of the day is that I had planned to have the shingles delivered to the roof.  Now we were stuck with them all on the ground in my driveway.  A neighbor was kind enough to let us borrow his tractor.  Thank you Lord!

Every day they continued to meet together in the temple courts. They broke bread in their homes and ate together with glad and sincere hearts,

Acts 2:45-47

As we worked, we shared.  As we ate, we shared.  As we showed the love of Christ to each other and those around us we all grew and learned that day. 

And now I sit in the quietness, listening to the soft patter of rain dripping into the dumpster outside of the window.  I look at the rubbish and am thankful that God has taken the rubbish out of my life. 

"Even good materials only last so long."

Even we will wear out and slow down.  Have you been remade?  Restored?

Good thoughts, good times, great people, and the journey goes on.