October 23 – “Doors”

Project Day.  I didn't know it when I woke up, but Chris had planned a project for today.  I was minding my own business, reading a book I got yesterday, Elders and Leaders: God's Plan for Leading the Church, by Gene Getz.  So far I'm really liking it.  He takes the same approach I did when we were in the middle of figuring things out at Seaside.  He does a chronological overview of what's in Acts and the Epistles.  Then he pulls in the historical events of the time and matches it all up with the cultural setting.  Whatever falls out is what he says his church tried to figure out a way to make it happen in this century.  A great sociological approach.    Ah, but back to the project.  Chris salvaged an old cabinet after the storm from Mom's garage.  She cleaned it up and painted it.  It now looks like a really old cabinet that's been cleaned up and painted.  And it works great for what she needed – a place to put knic-knacs.  But grandchildren tend to get taller, so as they have, they have also discovered a whole new world above about three feet.  And when they bring one of those breakable things over to Mommy, she tends to have a fit.  And if Mommy sees them getting close, she jumps into action to divert attention.  So Nana came up with a brilliant idea.  Doors.  Simple, mesh-covered doors that would still let the things be seen, but at least give the little guys an indication that there are no-no's around.    So this morning we went to Home Depot to find some wood.  We looked at pine one by two's, but they felt too heavy.  We found some cedar ones, but they were too expensive.  Finally we found some molding strips that were three quarters by a half inch.  That was the perfect size.  We cut us some strips, got some hinges, and headed for home.    We had to take a break at that point, because it was lunch time, and we were going to Jachin's baseball game at 12:45.  That was fun as usual.  Micah was home sick with his Mom, so the three of us plopped down on the bleachers.  Before long my Uncle Jerry showed up as well, so we had a real Vaughan family presence.  Jachin did well.  He got a hit and almost scored, but the third out was made just before he crossed the plate.    But back to the project.  Chris made the mistake of asking me to help, so of course I knew just enough to be dangerous.  We tried to cut the edges at a 45 degree angle so the strips would fit together.  I relished the opportunity to wield a power tool, but it was definitely a job for a table saw.  And we don't have one.  So my cuts were less than accurate.  Chris wanted to just glue the boards together and staple them in the back.  We ended up getting the cuts to match as closely as possible and gluing them.  When they dry we'll hit it with some staples to see if it will stay together.  We'll see tomorrow.   She assured me that she really doesn't care what it looks like.  It is just decorative as opposed to functional.  But the function remains the goal no matter what it looks like.  Kind of like worship.  The point is to glorify God.  It may look weird to some people and wonderful to others, but if you are glorifying God, go for it.   1 Chronicles 16:28-29 says, "Ascribe to the Lord, O families of nations, ascribe to the Lord glory and strength, ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name.  Bring an offering and come before him; worship the Lord in the splendor of his holiness."   Father, thanks for the time Chris and I had to spend together today.  That was sure more important than getting those door finished.  But she really wants the doors.  Could you help us get them to work like she wants?  Thanks.  Amen.