Don’ I mean Plain? Yes, that too.

Many of us as would be carpenters and handymen know the merits of a simple Plane (Def. A tool with a blade projecting from the base, used for smoothing the surface of wood by paring shavings from it).

Mine, shown here, is about fifty years old, and still does a good job of leveling, shaping, and making things fit. Along that same thought, we know that Jesus, during most of his life as a carpenter, must have used that device many times. Certainly, and more importantly, His work was that of shaping mandkind’s life to fit God’s purposes. Every word that came from His mouth was directed toward that end. He fashioned, trimmed, and leveled lives with amazing craftsmanship and love.

Back to us; Say we were a new door for instance, we would be crafted to fit a prescibed opening. Yet when hinged and hung into place, we find it most always needs further preparation. We also must be amended to fit comfortably into place. Not all at once mind you, but little by little until there is a quiet smoothness in closure. That fit remains consistent until there are foundational changes; perhaps moisture has crept in.

I have a son who is a builder-handyman. He recently, after many years in the field, moved into a marina on the Columbia River, and into a houseboat. In the steady process of doubling the space and going up and out, he found it to be a very specialized craft. Everytime he added something, or even added furniture or appliances, he upset the balance, and often caused the unit to further shift and sink. He might go to bed at night and wake up to a door that wouldn’t open or close. A large party or occupancy could change the level and balance. The tide goes up and down, the wind causes disturbances. The snow must certainly be melted or removed.

He developed a sense for that balance in the process; a ratio that would dictate placing specially made floats underneath. One by one he has added over twenty five of them; and there may be more required as things change again. He will not plane a door or adjust a cabinet until he addresses the balance. It makes sense also that if we are talking about our personal and spiritual lives, the same principles may well apply.

Our lives are always also in transition. We build and take stock; then build again. The formula for those assesments? We do nothing to accomodate influences upon what we have built, or are building, until we have addressed the issue of balance. The true and lasting balances in our lives have been given to us well in advance in the teachings of scripture, and through our willingness to invite God to join us as the carpenter-builder of our lives and futures. He deals with the storms and overstatements. We must not over- react, nor are we to be premature in human decisions, confrontations, and relationships.

He first does the trimming and making fit. Let Him place the floats. They are free, wholly adequate, and inexhaustible.

“For not other foundation can lay than that which is already laid, which is Jesus Christ” 1 Cor; 3: 11.

That’s the plain  truth of it !