czapled posted on July 25, 2008 14:55
I finished my summer vacation on Wednesday. It was only a week, but we will also be getting away to visit family right after Christmas. I spent most of my summer vacation painting my house.
For some of you, the idea of spending a vacation painting is about the same as spending a vacation hitting yourself over the head with a hammer. I enjoy painting, though my joints and back don’t enjoy it as much as they once did.
Spending several days dedicated to manual labor was a definite change of pace. On one level, I understand why work is Adam’s curse (Genesis 3:19). In another sense, I see the gratification of work. It felt pretty good to finish painting the front of my house. I had a sense of accomplishment and it felt good to know that I could still paint a straight line. I’m not finished, but I made a pretty good start and I like coming home to see my handiwork.
I can’t get too excited about my achievement because I have at least ten more projects to finish around the house when I get done painting the other three sides of the house. It really never stops and there is always more to do when you own your home, so I don’t want to stand too long admiring what I’ve gotten done.
Still, there is something inherently good about getting something done. Completing a project is fulfilling.
I am also reminded that I am God’s project. He is working on me – I am His remodeling job. The Holy Spirit, working through God’s word and sacraments, is reworking me - my attitudes, my behavior, and my speech – to look more like Him. At the end of the day, my prayer is that God looks at me and thinks it has been a good day at work.