Going back to Memorial Day...

we were under a bit of deconstruction here at the Complete Thought household. Husband decided that it was a perfect day to deconstruct the stairs and landing that lead up to our screened in porch. Household projects run on their own timeframe around here, so over the years I have tried to keep a balanced view towards the end. When it's done, it's done.

That, and ask no questions of, about, or during the project.

Deconstruction occurred without too much of a hitch. The one thing that could have been disastrous saw God's intervention. Construction began on Tuesday and proved to be another of God's interventions in the opportunity of sanctification.

All day long, in hot sun, the work of measuring, sawing, and nailing occurred. Progress was steady and excitement for a completed deck by Friday was steaming in the air. Along with the sweaty workers. Then, the discovery was made that major portions of the deck were not square.

Now, I'm no builder, but apparently when a rectangular deck is not properly square, the end result is a shape known as cattywompus. Which is not good for a deck connected to the screened in porch connected to the house. At that point, the sweaty workers had to begin another phase of deconstruction. Second phase deconstruction is not nearly as exciting as first phase. Especially when it indicates a step backwards in progress.

What happened?

Well, the screened porch was not as straight nor as square as originally believed, resulting in everything attached to it, and that morning built to it, was equally not as straight nor as square as intended. Adjustments had to be made regarding the bowing of the porch. Once that was accomplished, the math was re-figured and the measurements were made to correct the cattywompus to square.

Trusting the math, trusting the measurements, and trusting the standards brought what was crooked back into proper alignment.

I couldn't help but see the spiritual illustration of how God takes my crooked, bowed life and deconstructs it. Then, based upon the standards of His Word, the measurements of His law, and His incalculable grace He straightens me from cattywompus to completion. God's deconstruction is never a step backwards in progress; it is always a merciful step forwards in conformity to His will.

Meanwhile, I'm looking forward with hope to the finished project, in both areas.